As it prepared to merge with Carphone Warehouse, electricals giant Dixons looked in good shape as it issued prelims showing a rise in sales and profits.

As it prepared to merge with Carphone Warehouse, electricals giant Dixons looked in good shape as it issued prelims showing a rise in sales and profits.

Among the numbers Dixons highlighted was online sales growth – up 16% to £1bn for the first time.

Although Dixons, despite flagging the number, is keen to emphasise that it should be seen in the context of a multichannel operation where anything from a smartphone to a store might play a part in the purchase journey, it’s impressive.

Only a few years back all the talk was that the rise of Amazon and other online rivals might signal decline and fall for Dixons. The latter’s online sales are still much lower than Amazon’s estimated £4bn in the UK. The Amazon figure includes sales across all the etail giant’s categories, and a sizeable proportion will be electrials.

By bringing prices of comparable products into line with Amazon, confronting the showrooming threat and making the most of a multichannel rather than a single-channel opportunity, Dixons looks well placed to make the most of the new opportunities that a merger with Carphone might bring.