DSG: Currys owner gets a lift from TV and computer sales January 14, 2010 CURRYS and PC World owner DSG International had better-than-expected festive sales figures after strong demand for TVs and laptops. Sales surged by eight per cent in the 12 weeks to 9 January. Analysts had only predicted a rise of between two and three per cent. Chief executive John Browett said: “Looking forward, we expect 2010 [...]
HMV: Weak performance of Waterstone’s is drag on trading January 14, 2010 MUSIC and book retailer HMV posted a fall in like-for-like sales over Christmas – dragged down by the poor performance of its Waterstone’s business. Sales in the five weeks to January were down 1.2 per cent overall even though the group’s CD and DVD chain in the UK and Ireland saw a lift of 2.2 [...]
Booker: Cash and carry firm boosted January 14, 2010 SALES at the country’s largest cash-and-carry wholesaler Booker Group rose 6.7 per cent in the 16 weeks to 1 January, with increased customer numbers and improved average spend per shopper boosting the figures. The company said in a statement: “Following improvements to the range, fresh departments did particularly well with fruit and vegetable sales up [...]
Alexon: Fashion firm off target January 14, 2010 SHARES in women’s fashion retailer Alexon plunged after the company yesterday admitted that it was unlikely to hit its targets. Like-for-like sales for the 23 weeks to 9 January fell 14.3 per cent. Shares dropped up to 11 per cent, before recovering to close five per cent lower at 36p after the firm said poor [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: HOW HAVE STORES FARED DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON? January 14, 2010 SAM HART | CHARLES STANLEY “I think the overall performance of retailers has been impressive and a lot more resilient than expected. Halfords and DSG were slightly disappointing but the picture is a lot better than expected. I think one reason is that unemployment has not gone up to the levels anticipated.” JONATHAN PRITCHARD | [...]
Sales at Home Retail Group upset the City January 14, 2010 SHARES in Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group (HRG) slid more than six per cent closing at 265.8p yesterday despite the company increasing its full-year profit forecast by £20m. The retailer estimated that its pre-tax profits for the current financial year to 31 March would hit £285m The revised figure came as a trading [...]
Primark sales surge thanks to boom in budget fashions January 14, 2010 PRIMARK owner Associated British Foods (ABF) revealed healthy trading figures yesterday – mainly thanks to the budget fashion arm. Primark’s 196-strong chain saw sales rise 19 per cent in the 16 weeks to 2 January, with house broker Panmure Gordon estimating a seven per cent like-for-like sales rise as consumers made their way to its [...]
Mothercare sees strong trade January 14, 2010 Mothercare said yesterday that sales rose 4.6 per cent in the third quarter, after a strong Christmas performance helped its core business record its 18th consecutive quarter of sales growth. International sales rose 9.3 per cent – 14 per cent at constant exchange rates – and the group said it was on track to meet [...]
New-look Liberty in sales boost January 14, 2010 Sales at London department store Liberty rose almost 18 per cent across the last 12 months, with fragrances, menswear and scarves leading the push over Christmas. The figures helped the group’s revenue rise by 20 per cent. Liberty re-opened with a fanfare last year after a revamp. Takings from its website have tripled since the [...]
The big freeze helps Halfords January 14, 2010 Bikes-to-car parts retailer Halfords yesterday said sales for the third quarter were up one per cent thanks to a seasonal lift from winter weather. The company said the rise had been fuelled by the sale of items associated with motoring on the cold snap – including new batteries. The group also saw strong growth in [...]