Furniture retailer CSL like-for-likes jumped 3.3% in the four weeks to Boxing Day despite reduced footfall to its retail park stores.
Total sales at the 21 store sofa chain were up 36.8% year-on-year. The retailer said its focus on discounts and value were helping it to outperform the market.
Sales in its year ending 31 December 2011 are likely to be ahead of the year previous at around £80m, compared with £70m in 2010.
CSL managing director Jason Tyldesley said: “The combination of reduced household expenditure and job insecurity has led to significantly reduced footfall across Britain’s retail parks. Despite this fairly bleak backdrop, we’ve managed to win over new customers and increase our market share.
“Being family owned and debt-free, we’ve had the ability to invest in our brand – in new stores, technology, marketing, customer service and product – while maintaining a highly competitive pricing strategy.”
The retailer said innovations such as the ‘in your room’ feature on its newly launched website and augmented reality app had given it a boost.
New customer services, such as a lifetime structural guarantee, its ‘love it or exchange it’ promise and 72 hour delivery on an extended range of models, have also helped boost transactions pre-Christmas according to the retailer.
Last year, CSL announced a strategy to expand beyond its heartland North and Midlands regions to develop a UK-wide presence, with plans to open 18 new sites by 2015.
Its new stores at Brent Cross in London and Croydon are performing ahead of expectations according to the retailer and a further store is due to open at Lakeside Thurrock, Essex, this summer.
The retailer will also increase its advertising to coincide with its expansion plans.
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