Wet weather helps lift sales at Carpetright
CARPETRIGHT, the troubled floor coverings retailer, showed some signs of recovery yesterday after revamped stores and improvements to its bed range helped boost first quarter sales.
The group, which has issued a string of profit warnings over the last two years, said like-for-like sales at its 486 UK stores rose 1.7 per cent in the 12 weeks to 21 July.
That compared with a 1.4 per cent increase in the previous quarter.
Chief executive Darren Shapland attributed the uptick to “self-help actions” such as extending its laminate range, developing its bed offer, and refurbishing stores.
But he conceded that it had benefited from the unusually wet weather, which helped drive customers through its doors.
Carpetright has been particularly hard hit because of a stagnant housing market and cash-strapped consumers delaying home DIY projects.
Taking into account the four store closures, total UK sales fell 2.1 per cent.
Economic woe in the Eurozone meant sales in the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland slumped by 6.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis.