The Works has hailed its “strongest ever” Christmas trading performance, notching up record growth both in stores and online.
The value books, toys and stationery retailer said like-for-likes jumped 6.3% in the 12 weeks to December 24, marking the firm’s seventh consecutive year of festive sales growth.
Total sales advanced 15% year on year.
A tenth of the retailer’s total turnover was generated online, where sales surged 37%.
The Works, chaired by Card Factory founder Dean Hoyle, said it has “bucked the trend of other discounters” by making a success of its multi-channel operations, including its growing click-and-collect proposition, which spiked 60%.
Its relocation last year to a new purpose-built office facility and distribution centre also contributed to its festive performance as it enabled significant improvements in the supply chain.
Chief executive Kevin Keaney said: “To deliver record sales both online and in-store in such a challenging economic environment and against strong comparatives from last year is an accomplishment we are extremely proud of.
“Our success is down to our strategy of continuously delivering exceptional value to all our customers which ensured we were not forced into heavy discounting before Christmas.
“In 2018 we’ll continue to focus on expanding our store portfolio.”
The Endless-owned company plans to open at least 50 new stores in 2018, taking its portfolio to 480 shops, and is exploring new store concepts.
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