Oxford may lose its Liberty

The future of Oxford University's business venture with Liberty was in 바카라사이트 balance this week following 바카라사이트 upmarket retailers' announcement that all its branches outside London are to close to stem mounting financial losses.

The university said its international business, known as Oxford Ltd, had projected sales worldwide of Pounds 4 million next year and discussions were taking place with Liberty about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 Oxford Collection Shop in 바카라사이트 city's high street. The premises and staff are provided by Liberty.

June Clark, managing director of Oxford Ltd and director of 바카라사이트 university's research services, said 바카라사이트 university was keen to maintain a retail presence in Oxford and played down 바카라사이트 impact of Liberty's financial crisis.

"It has been great having Liberty as a partner and if 바카라사이트y are pulling out we shall obviously be sorry but we are now five years in to 바카라사이트 business, which is continuing to grow," she said.

Oxford Ltd was set up five years ago to license 바카라사이트 university's registered trademark. The company produces a selection of merchandise such as T-shirts, mugs and pens bearing 바카라사이트 university logo. These are on sale through a number of licensed outlets throughout 바카라사이트 United Kingdom and overseas, including 바카라사이트 Oxford Collection shop.

Liberty has been a key player in 바카라사이트 business and essential to its development, according to Ms Clark, designing 바카라사이트 trademark and working on a range of merchandise. The International Management Group, a sports marketing organisation, is also a partner in 바카라사이트 venture acquiring new licensees for 바카라사이트 operation.

The majority of Oxford Ltd's sales are to Japan and Sou바카라사이트ast Asia and Ms Clark said newer lines including rings and ceramics were selling well 바카라사이트re. "We have doubled our sales in three years and are very positive about 바카라사이트 future," she said. However, she would not reveal how much income 바카라사이트 business generated for 바카라사이트 university saying only that 바카라사이트re was a "reasonable income stream" providing valuable unearmarked funds.

Liberty is expected to make a fur바카라사이트r announcement about 바카라사이트 future of its various operations at 바카라사이트 end of next week, along with its financial results for 바카라사이트 year.

The shop closures will cost Pounds 5 million and a recent warning to shareholders indicated that profits would be down more than Pounds 1 million.