Blacktown. Noni B battles on

Women’s fashion retailer Noni B, in Blacktown. expects to break even or make a small loss for the second half of this financial year as it battles relentless discounting by its heavyweight competitors and low consumer confidence. The company said its loyal customer base and focus on the 40-plus women's market will help it lift profitability by 50 per cent for the full year. Noni B said it was navigating the tough retail conditions by avoiding some of the more aggressive discounting that had taken place this year and by keeping a tight control on costs, helping it to improve margins. It expects to report a full-year profit of between $3.4 million and $3.8 million, against a profit for 2008-09 of $2.3 million.