• Findel group sales up around 11% in 16 weeks since October 1 
  • Express Gifts total sales jump 14%
  • Full-year profit forecast maintained

Home shopping firm Findel has posted a jump in sales over Christmas as its Express Gifts business continued to perform strongly.

The group, which last year considered appointing Mike Ashley as its chairman, said sales rose “over” 11% in the 16 weeks since October 1.

Sales at its largest business, Express Gifts, jumped 14% in the period.

Findel said its customer recruitment target for Express Gifts was “significantly exceeded” in 2016 as the customer base rose 13% to 1.56m.

”Express Gifts also increased customer retention through a number of actions including the improved websites that were launched in April 2016,” it said. 

At is education business, sales fell 1.7% in the second half.

Despite extra marketing costs for recruitment at Express Gifts, Findel said full-year profit is “expected to be within the range of current market forecasts”.

Findel last month appointed Rank Group’s Ian Burke as executive chairman.

Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley had been considered for the job of chairman but his appointment was rejected by Findel’s board. Ashley had built up a near 30% stake in the home shopping group.

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