Bonmarché float shows high street turmoil easing Bonmarché, which was founded in 1982 in Doncaster, ran into trouble as it tried to chase younger customers and opened a wave of stores across the country. Sun bought the company, which also owns the Ann Harvey brand, through a pre-pack administration deal in January 2012 and reduced the number of stores from 400 to 250. Since then, Bonmarché, which is led by chief executive Beth Butterwick, has grown sales sharply and opened new stores. The company now has 264 stores and is opening sites in garden centres as part of a tie-up with The Garden Centre Group. In the year to March 30, the clothing company generated sales of £147m and earnings before interest, tax, deprecation and amortisation of £9.1m. Since the end of the financial year, like-for-like sales have accelerated and are up by more than 10pc year-on-year. David Emanuel, who designed the wedding dress for Diana, Princess of Wales, produces a collection of clothing at Bonmarche. The company also has a loyalty scheme called Bonus Club, which has 6.5m members. As well as confirming Mr Mason as chairman, Bonmarché has hired former City banker Ishbel Macpherson and ex-House of Fraser chief executive John Coleman as non-executive directors. Investec is advising Bonmarché on the flotation. Bonmarche declined to comment last night.