BLACKSOCKS closes 2011 with Record Growth

Are men’s feet growing? Significant Increase in Large Size Sales

New York, NY (January 30, 2012) — BLACKSOCKS, the e-commerce pioneer and inventor of the sockscription, has once again achieved double digit growth in 2011. Ten of the 12 months of last year were the best since the company started in 1999. Visits to the website were up by a third compared to 2010 and every tenth visitor to the BLACKSOCKS website now comes via a smartphone or iPad. In 2011, five percent of all sales came through iPhones, iPads and other mobile devices; four times more than in the previous year. BLACKSOCKS’s world headquarters are in Zurich, Switzerland.

International expansion

Disproportionately strong growth in the US and Germany contributed to the success in 2011, with US sales up by two-thirds. More and more American men have had enough of one-size-fits-all socks made of artificial fibers and are opting for BLACKSOCKS’ correct-size socks made of quality natural materials.

Trend towards larger sizes

Have men's feet grown or has BLACKSOCKS simply tapped into a new market segment? The fact is that 2011 saw a significant increase in sock sales for men with shoe sizes 12 to 15-1/2. Samy Liechti, Managing Director and founder of BLACKSOCKS, said "for men with big feet, it is not easy to find socks that fit. Word gets around that we can also cater for men with big feet."

Success with new products

Newly launched products, including Urban Comfort socks made of fair trade organic cotton, and new sock colors added to the increase in sales. While socks and T-shirts reported growth in the last year, partially due to the newly launched Pierrette polo shirt, sales of underwear were slightly down for the year.

Satisfied customers

BLACKSOCKS customers are loyal. Last year regular visitors to the website increased by 80 percent. A disproportionately large number of these customers also made purchases. "Our customer service really lives up to its name and makes a major contribution in this area," explains Liechti. "We are happy to solve any customer problems and do it quickly and simply."

About Blacksocks

BLACKSOCKS invented the sockscription in 1999 in order to rid the world of sock sorrows. There are now more than 60,000 subscribers in 75 countries who are sent three pairs of socks by mail several times a year. The socks are manufactured in Italy and shipped free from Switzerland worldwide (www.blacksocks.com/us).

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