Oroton Group has reported a weak start to fiscal 2017.
Oroton Group CEO Mark Newman said December and January were critical to the company's first half performance.
A weak trading period has forced the Group to lower its earnings expectations for the first half of fiscal 2017.
It now expects EBITDA to be between $4.5 and $5 million, compared to $8.9 million over the same period last year.
“With a stronger product offer and more engaging marketing campaigns sales improved in the lead up to Christmas in the Oroton first retail and department store concession stores," he said.
“However, as we moved into Boxing Day and the New Year, Group like for like sales did not improve from the -8 per% to date reported at the annual general meeting as we began to cycle even stronger comparable store sales from the previous year."
Group sales are now -10% for the year to date, compared to +10% on the same period last year.
Newman attributed low Boxing Day traffic, aggressive discounting from competitors and a colder-than-expected spring for the softer results.