Hermès runs on ’fumes

Hermès, the French maker of Birkin bags, said sales of the latest fashion collections, acc💞essories and fragrances spurred growth in first-half earnings as it reiterated its forecasts for 2013.

Operating profit rose 14 percent to $773.6 million, the Paris-based compꦺany said yesterd🃏ay. The stock advanced as much as 3.6 percent, the most in more than a month.

Fashion and perfumes propell🌌ed revenue in the period as growth in bag sales was constrained by production capacity.

To increase output, Hermès has been hiring about 200 craftsmen a year to add to the about 2,200 aꦐrtisans working at the leather-goo🍨ds division, said the unit’s head Guillaume de Seynes. The company plans to add two production facilities in France devoted to “artisanal activities.”

“Demand for Hermès products remains strong,” theꦆ company said. Fu🐭ll-year profit as a percentage of sales this year could be close to 2012’s record 32.1 percent.