Fifty shades of profit: Erotica proves good for WH Smith

Sales of publishing phenomenon, EL James Fifty Shades of Grey helped the Irish arm of retail giant, WH Smith record a profit here for the first time last year, when the company generated €541,658 in pre-tax profits.

New figures show that the UK-owned retailer recorded the pre-tax profit last year after recording a pre-tax loss of €165,472 in 2011 — a positive swing of €707,130.

This followed revenues increasing by 59% from €6.86m to €10.9m in the 12 months to the end of Aug 31, 2012.