FROM ONE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP TO ANOTHER

Our client, Matches Fashion, was recently in the press as being hailed as the next ‘biggest luxury company’ following an 85% increase in online sales since 2013 when the CEO, Ulric Jerome, joined the prestigious brand.

Leaving behind their humble bricks-and-mortar beginnings, Matchesfashion.com has fast become one of the go-to online sites for high-end, couture items. It's fair to say they have come a long way since ask-re were initially instructed by Diane Von Furstenberg to help reduce their property costs!

It was ‘way-back-when’ that our services were really beneficial to Matches, where we appealed the business rates assessments across the portfolio of properties and successfully negotiated reductions on their liabilities, generating savings for our client and proving our skills were well-Matched! As always, our service began with a thorough audit of all the business rates bills received from the 2005 (and subsequently, 2010) assessments. From Union Road, Clapham to Marylebone High Street, we gathered and studied all the business rates demands to check the rateable value of properties in neighbouring locations to see if Matches were being over charged at any of their stores – and then made a series of successful appeals, in every case – game, set and match!

Looking ahead, we now have to prepare for Revaluation 2017 which is shaping up to be a massive tax-increase on the ‘bricks’ part of the business. Meantime, there are ongoing property leasing costs like rent reviews and dilapidations to keep us busy on saving money whilst the sales force motors ahead on-line. Click here to download