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LONDON (Alliance News) - Card Factory PLC on Tuesday reported growth in sales in the first nine months of its financial year, and said it is confident about its Christmas offering despite seeing lower footfall in its stores.
The discount greeting card and gifts retailer said total sales rose by 4.4% year-on-year in the nine months ended October 31, with 46 net new stores opened in the period, taking the size of the total estate to 860 stores.
Card Factory plans to open around 50 net new stores in the year on the whole, and said it has a good pipeline of new store opportunities for the next year.
The retailer noted that while first-half sales growth was softer year-on-year due to lower retail footfall, and while weekly sales patterns in the second half to date have continued to vary, it has seen some improvement in sales of everyday ranges since the start of October.
Card Factory added that sales at gettingpersonal.co.uk continue to be flat, with improvements in average spend being offset by lower visitor numbers.
Card Factory will release its full-year results on March 28.
"We enter the important final quarter with an excellent Christmas offering, both in our card ranges and an expanded choice of seasonal gifts. Whilst it is always difficult to forecast short term footfall trends, we remain confident that the quality and value of our extensive range will continue to appeal to consumers," Chief Executive Karen Hubbard said in a statement.
By Karolina Kaminska; karolinakaminska@alliancenews.com @KarolinaAllNews
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