Bolder designs and outdoor collections helped drive furniture ales at Dunelm in the first quarter.
The 200-store chain says furniture ‘performed particularly well’ while its textile offer from rugs to pillows also enjoyed growth.
This helped the retailer boost sales by 6.3% in the 13 weeks to 29 March, with sales reaching £462m.
Sales for the nine-month period were 3.7% higher at £1.356bn.
‘Our elevated product offering continues to inspire customers, with our new Sophie Robinson collaboration offering bolder, more colourful options giving customers new ideas on how to create a maximalist look across their home. Reflecting the relatively warm spring so far, the performance of our Summer Living ranges has been encouraging, as customers get their gardens ready for summer,’ it says.
‘We are continuing to connect with more customers, increasingly using data and insight to drive decision-making across the business, from enhancing our digital customer experience to expanding our store portfolio. We delivered a strong sales performance in the third quarter, in terms of both quantity and quality. At the same time, we have continued to offer outstanding value to our customers, increasing volumes and gross margin year-on-year, with growth across our categories.’
‘We’ve had a good third quarter, with strong growth and further strategic progress. The Dunelm brand continues to attract a broad range of customers, offering outstanding value and quality, and we’re really pleased with how our new ranges are being received,’ says Nick Wilkinson, Dunelm ceo.
‘We remain committed to driving market share gains through growth across all our channels. March saw the opening of Dunelm’s 200th store, in Merthyr Tydfil, an exciting milestone, and we continue to see new opportunities, filling “white space” in our physical estate through a variety of store formats. At the same time, we’re improving customers’ digital experience, including through Click & Collect, which has continued to gain momentum.
‘Our customers are now enjoying getting their homes and gardens ready for summer and we’re focused on being as relevant as possible for the warmer months ahead. We remain very mindful of the wider backdrop and the impact of increased uncertainty on consumer sentiment, but maintain our focus on strengthening Dunelm’s position as The Home of Homes.’
