Hermes International reported a 12% rise in sales for the second quarter. Sales of scarves and handbags helped push sales upward.
Sales in the three months ended June 30 reached 446.6 million euros, or $607.4 million at average exchange rates for the period, from 398.1 million euros, or $541.4 million, in the same period a year earlier. At constant exchange rates, sales rose 3.9 percent.
The Paris-based company cited "persistently strong" demand for its leather goods, pushing sales in the category up 33.4 percent to 228 million euros, or $310 million.
Despite a small improvement in its perfume business, sales for other sectors declined, with watches and tableware hardest hit.
The luxury good company says it expects steady sales for the rest of 2009. Hermes is planning on renovating or opening more than ten stores in the second half of the year in Asia and the U.S. as an investment in the company's future growth.
