Expansion

The company enjoyed huge success on the back of this, and by 1970, sales had reached £300,000. More licensing operations brought about the opening of department stores in Australia, Canada and Japan in 1971, while further shops opened in Paris and San Francisco in 1974, and UK shop openings continued with a vengeance.

By 1975 the company had grown faster than anyone could have predicted -revenue had increased to £5 million per year, and the company now employed 1,000 people worldwide. A Queen's Award for Export was given to the company in 1977, and revenue reached £25 million in 1979 as the company celebrated its 25th anniversary by launching a new range of perfumes. At this time Laura began to shift her attention from fashion back to fabrics, and the company launched its first full home furnishings lines which have continued to grow to this day.

Tragedy struck however in 1985, when Laura died as a result of a fall down some stairs while visiting her children. The business felt her loss profoundly, but her strong values and design ethos remain with the company. The enthusiasm and affection felt for the company was demonstrated two months after Laura's death, when a planned public flotation of Laura Ashley Holdings PLC was 34 times oversubscribed.

Since then, the company has weathered the damaging effects of worldwide recession. Sir Bernard, knighted in 1987, officially opened Texplan, the company's £8 million textile and wallpaper printing plant. The late 1980s saw also the opening of prestigious retail sites in London, the launch of the "Mother and Child" collection and "Laura Ashley Home," a range of exclusive home furnishings.

After a period of reorganization and restructuring, Laura Ashley celebrated its 40th anniversary-Sir Bernard retired as chairman in 1993 and became honorary life president.

In July 1999, a management and investor team completed the buy-out of the 94 Laura Ashley stores in the United States and Canada from Laura Ashley Holdings, the publicly traded British parent company. Under its new parent, Laura Ashley (North America) Inc. entered into a supply, franchise and master licensing agreement that will retain strong ties with the retailer's English heritage but will also allow for a better product mix and improved service for North American customers. Their aim: to continue the amazing success story of a brand hailed by all as a modern classic.