// Dunelm reports a rise in fiscal first-quarter sales as its summer sale promotion in July boosted demand
// The homewares retailer confirmed full-year profit before tax will be in line with analysts’ recently increased consensus expectations
Dunelm has said it feels well-placed to manage the current supply chain disruption, as it has good stock levels and a low proportion of seasonal ranges.
The retailer grew its total sales by 8.3 per cent to £388.8 million in its first quarter as it continued to make market share gains.
The homewares retailer said the performance in the 13 weeks to September 25 was mainly driven customers’ positive response to its summer sale, improved product availability and new ranges in its furniture categories.
Meanwhile, online sales increased by 20 per cent in the period.
As a result, the retailer confirmed its full-year profit before tax will be in line with analysts’ recently increased consensus expectations.
Dunelm chief executive Nick Wilkinson said: “We are pleased with our performance in the first quarter, with sales growth across all channels and continued market share gains, especially given the strength of the comparative period last year, which benefited from pent-up demand following the first UK lockdown.
“We continue to invest in enhancing our market leading proposition to win more customers who shop more frequently across Dunelm’s expanding range. For example, we have now developed a ‘my favourites’ functionality online, which is another step in getting closer to our customers and making their homewares shopping as easy as possible.”
Looking ahead, the retailer said it is continuing to work with its long-term suppliers and partners to mitigate the impact of supply chain disruption and inflationary pressures from freight and driver shortages.
It added: “Whilst we are not immune to the challenges being widely reported, we feel well placed relatively to manage them.”
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