(Adds details on earnings, context)
Oct 10 (Reuters) - Dunelm Group Plc reported a 6.4%
rise in like-for-like quarterly sales on Thursday, as a spruced
up advertising campaign and new delivery options fueled demand
for home furnishings despite Brexit dampening wider consumer
sentiment.
Founded as a market stall 40 years ago, Dunelm has grown
into one of Britain's largest homeware retailers. The company is
facing weaker consumer demand and like the rest of the country's
retail industry it has taken steps to overcome the hurdles.
British retailers endured their worst September since at
least the mid-1990s, according to recent surveys that painted a
muted picture of household demand ahead of Brexit.
To combat the high street slowdown, Dunelm has ramped up
television ads run during popular programmes such as during
iTV's "This Morning" and has expanded its social media presence.
"Despite the recent softness in the homewares market and the
increased political uncertainty, we are confident we can
continue to win market share and our expectations for the full
year remain unchanged," Nick Wilkinson, Dunelm's Chief Executive
Officer said.
As more customers shop online, Dunelm is spending more on
developing a new website with an expanded range of products and
new delivery options.
With over 170 store across the United Kingdom, the company
said it expects to transfer all its online traffic to the new
website before Christmas.
Total revenue rose 7.5% to 262.6 million pounds ($320.95
million) in the first quarter ended Sept. 28, boosted by a 34.7%
jump in online revenue.
($1 = 0.8182 pounds)
(Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard
Orr)
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