In a pre-close update, ScS said order intake slipped 0.7% on a like-for-like basis in its full year as it came up against tough comparatives. 

Its overall number of orders inched up 1.4% in the twelve months to July 29 – in line with expectations.

The sofa and carpet specialist said that, in the second half of the year, order numbers declined 5%. It put this down to “challenging comparatives and what appeared to be a softening market environment”.

It added, however, that its two-year like-for-like order intake has grown 14.3%.

ScS chief executive David Knight said: “We are pleased that despite the challenging comparatives and wider market backdrop we have traded in-line with the board’s expectations for the year.

”Looking ahead, notwithstanding the current trading environment, the board believes the business remains in a strong position to maximise opportunities as they arise and to grow market share.”

SCS, which operates 100 UK stores, will report its preliminary results on October 3.