Dunelm like-for-likes sales up 5.2% in Q3
Dunelm has reported a 5.2% increase in third quarter like-for-like sales as the homewares retailer benefited from a later end to its winter sale and an earlier Easter this year.
In the 13 weeks to 30 March 2013, total sales rose 15.4% to £177.8 million driven, in part, by three new store openings in the period, including a re-location of an existing superstore. This compares to total sales growth of 10.7% in the same period last year.
Dunelm said it had seen continued progress in its multi-channel business with “pleasing” revenue growth which was helped by launch of a spring/summer catalogue in early March. Plans to create a significantly larger web fulfilment centre in the summer of 2013 remain on track.
However, chief executive Nick Wharton warned that sales growth in like-for-like stores was likely to be much harder to achieve in the remainder of the financial year.
Never Miss a Retail Update!He added: “With clear opportunities to strengthen further our customer offer in store, to roll out more new stores and to benefit from our exciting multi-channel agenda, the Board remains confident in the longer term growth prospects for the business.”
