- With sales of £1.92 billion for the 18 weeks to 2nd
January, Argos outperformed expectations,
according to a statement from parent company Home Retail
Group. Total sales were up 3.9 percent compared with the
previous year, while like-for-likes rose a scant 0.1 percent. The
web accounted for 35 percent of sales, up from 30 percent a year
ago. Total sales at sister company Homebase rose
4.6 percent for the same period, to £501 million, with
like-for-likes up 4.0 percent. All told, Home Retail expects
benchmark profit before tax for the fiscal year to exceed the
market consensus of £265 million by about £20
million. - Total sales at DSG International for the 12
weeks to 9th January were up 11 percent from the previous year,
with like-for-likes up 8 percent. The City had expected an
increase of just 3 percent. Sales within the UK computing
division, which includes PC World, were down 8
percent. But within the UK and Ireland electricals group, which
includes Currys and Dixons,
sales rose 8 percent. Overall like-for-like web sales increased
15 percent. - Direct sales at Mothercare, which includes
Early Learning Centre, for the 13 weeks to 8th
January were up 19.5 percent from the previous year. Total sales
were up 4.6 percent, with UK like-for-likes up 4.2 percent. - Congrats to John Lewis: The department store
chain was voted the UK’s favourite retailer in a survey of 6,000
shoppers conducted by consultancy Verdict, reports the
Telegraph. Online-only behemoth Amazon
came in second place, followed by fellow multicategory etailer
Play.com, home decor retailer Dunelm
Mill, and Marks & Spencer. - The Telegraph has an article about fashion
brands’ use of smart-phone apps. Net-a-Porter,
which has an app, and My-wardrobe.com, which
doesn’t yet, are among the brands featured.
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