Amara operates websites for all the markets it operates including the UK where its offer also comprises furniture
Premium lifestyle, furniture and home accents etailer Amara Living expanded here and abroad in 2017 in a year that saw it attract new equity funding and agree bigger debt facilities.

Sales jumped 22 percent to just under £19 million for the Essex based business in the year to end December, during which it raised £2 million through a rights issue and renewed and increased its loan facilities with Barclays, also to £2 million (prev. £1.2m).

Revenue grew fastest abroad — rising 31 percent to £10.65 million — with Amara selling its designer lifestyle, home and giftware in Ireland, mainland Europe, the U.S, Australasia and the Middle East through dedicated ecommerce sites.

The UK, where along with Ireland its offer also includes premium furniture lines, saw Amara sales grow 13 percent to £8.3 million.

Shareholder funding helped cover losses, with the company recording a pretax deficit of £1.96 million (2016: £1.51m) last year. Its net loss was less than that — £1.58 million — thanks to a £384,211 research and development tax credit.

Post year-end, Amara this spring raised a further £1.59 million in equity finance, which it said was evidence of the further support of its shareholder base.

Total equity funding has reached about £12 million for the company, which is owned by a large group of private individuals including its founders, Sam and Andrew Hood.