1m.
Sales for 2004 were flat overall, at £35.
7m, according to preliminary results for the Island-based home shopping company, although sales over the internet increased by 24%.
The final dividend to shareholders increased by 8% to 5.
5p.
Shares today rose by 1p on the announcement to 207.
p.
Chairman Alan Fryer said: ‘We improved profitability through a good performance from Listen2Books, and continued control of costs.
All the group’s four brands have been developed and diversified significantly in the last 12 months and we are now much better positioned to capture a wider section of the market.
He added that a disappointing Christmas result from Flying Flowers’ impaired sales growth in what was otherwise a successful year, but that continuing strong cash generation had left £6.
2m on the balance sheet, putting the company in a good position to implement its growth plans.
The St Lawrence firm consists of four brands: Flying Flowers (flowers by post); Gardening Direct mail order bedding plants and gardening products; Listen2Books audio books distribution; and the Benham stamps and coins specialist.
