ScS – now trading as Sofa Carpet Specialist – is a UK-based furniture and flooring retailer that is focused on expanding the breadth and quality of its offer to attract a wider customer base and achieve higher transactional values.
It trades from around 100 standalone stores across the UK, having pulled out of a significant concession agreement with the House of Fraser department store business ahead of its collapse in mid 2018.
While online sales still account for just 5% of total sales, these have been growing robustly. Creating a market-leading website and driving digital awareness is at the heart of its current strategy, with the retailer scoping out a new site in early 2020 that will be “built from the ground up to be faster, more responsive, and better suited to what our customers want”. A key focus will be on improving online conversion rates through better imagery and a faster site.
ScS has recorded a sharp uptick in its order intake since lockdown regulations began to ease, as it feels the benefits of pent-up consumer demand.
With the prospect of more local lockdowns on the cards, Retail Week explores how retailers can manage and plan for an uncertain future.
Furniture Village and DFS are both planning to reopen stores in time for the bank holiday weekend.
A host of retailers including JD Sports, Dunelm, ScS and Games Workshop have confirmed that their stores will close following prime minister Boris Johnson’s address to the nation last night.
ScS has reported increases in both gross sales and profit in its half-year results, despite low customer confidence and the developing coronavirus situation.
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