// Homebase achieved its strongest sales week since Easter 2022
// CEO Damian McGloughlin said he was “confident the market is headed in the right direction” after a slow spring
Homebase has predicted a strong summer after it hit record sales since Easter 2022 over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Factors including a wet March and the cost-of-living crisis have dampened the start to peak spring trading season across the DIY sector, however, the warmer weather over the weekend boosted sales at the retailer.
The home and garden retailer sold more than 4m plants over the weekend, up 20% on last year.
Meanwhile, over 22,000 barbecues were purchased, and sales in storage rose over 12% as shoppers spring cleaned their homes.
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Homebase CEO Damian McGloughlin said: “After a tough winter and a slow start to spring, we’re now seeing strong performance and we’re confident the market is headed in the right direction.
“We know customers are still spending cautiously, but the promising uplift we’ve seen in sales gives us real confidence as we go into the peak summer months.”
As well as a boom in garden product sales, Homebase sales jumped more than 6% across its kitchens and bathrooms business.
The retailer said the strong performance came after “another year of investment and continued transformation” which includes a new till system across stores and the rollout of a “state-of-the-art” forecast and replenishment system.
The positive performance boosts Homebase revival. The retailer has bounced back from administration after being bought by Hilco Capital in June 2018 for just £1.
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