7th Nov 2007 07:02
Stagecoach Theatre Arts PLC 07 November 2007 Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc (STA/L) ("Stagecoach" or "the Group") Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc operates the UK's largest franchise network ofpart-time performing arts schools for children aged between 4 and 16. LAUNCH OF 'STAGECOACH SHOP' "Stagecoach launches www.stagecoachshop.co.uk, a new on-line shop offering children's toys, clothing and literature and other merchandise to Stagecoach students and the general public." Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc, the AIM-listed company which is the UK's largest franchise operator of a network of part-time performing arts schools for children aged between 4 and 16, announces the launch of Stagecoach Shop (www.stagecoachshop.co.uk), a new web-based retail platform offering children's toys, clothing and literature/plays and other merchandise to Stagecoach's 40,000students and to the general public. Stagecoach Shop now offers four new product ranges, namely dolls/puppets,clothes, make-up and books/plays to its captive audience of students and theirparents, as well as the general public, as the Company looks to develop newrevenue streams from merchandising. The Company has seen an increasing trend for potential students to make on-lineapplications to join Stagecoach schools and a marked increase in the number of hits on the main Stagecoach website (which is linked to the Stagecoach Shop), which currently sees volumes of over 5,000 hits per week. Stagecoach Shop is a joint venture with a current supplier of merchandise to theStagecoach students and provides a complementary service to the stage schools ata minimum level of capital investment. This model has been successfullydeveloped by other franchisors in the US, in particular. David Sprigg, Joint Managing Director, commented: "I am very pleased to see Stagecoach launching its own on-line shop and I lookforward to its future successful growth and development. As our student body andmore importantly, their parents, increasingly shop on line, this new retailoffering is a natural extension to our business and I believe it offers anexciting potential new revenue stream." For further information visit www.stagecoach.co.uk or enquiries to: Stagecoach Theatre Arts: Tel: 07775 643 939Richard Dawson, Finance Director and Investor Relations Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited: Tel: 020 7131 4000Robert KidsonSiobhan Sergeant Public Relations, Adventis Financial PR Tel: 020 7034 4758Tarquin Edwards 07879 458 364 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
STA.L