Dunelm reports ‘very strong’ first quarter trading
Dunelm has reported “very strong’’ first quarter trading for the 13-week period ended 26 September with results coming in ahead of expectations.
The homewares retailer saw its total sales increase by 36.7% to £359.1m, an increase of £96.5m year over the year.
Online sales accounted for 29.7% of the quarter’s total sales compared to 17.6% in the same period last year.
Following these results, the retailer said it is to repay any funding received under the government’s Job Retention Scheme provided there is no further material Covid-19 related impact in the coming months.
Nick Wilkinson, Dunelm’s chief executive officer, said: “We are really pleased with our very strong performance in the first quarter, with customers responding well to the Dunelm offer across all product categories, both in-store and online.
“Recent months have seen homewares become even more relevant, as people spend more time in their homes up and down the country. Our colleagues and suppliers have worked really hard to ensure our value focused, market leading proposition resonates with customers.”
He added: “The strength in trading at this early point in the year is testament to their exceptional commitment and adaptability.
“While we remain cautious about the continued uncertainty in the wider market, the resilience and flexibility of our business model leaves us well positioned as we enter our peak trading period and we remain confident in our ability to grow market share and help even more customers create a home they love.”
