Wickes has posted strong sales growth in the first half of the year, as a return to positive performance in its Design & Installation division and robust retail trading saw the home improvement retailer grow market share to record levels.
Group revenue at the business rose 5.6% year-on-year to £847.9m in the 26 weeks to 28 June 2025, with retail sales up 6.8% and Design & Installation revenue increasing 2.1% – marking a return to like-for-like growth in Q2.
The firm said growth was volume-led, with stable pricing and strong demand across timber, garden maintenance, and decorating helping to drive customer transactions.
DIY sales saw mid-single digit growth, while TradePro sales jumped 10%, with active members climbing 14% to 615,000.
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Wickes said this performance reflects the strength of its customer offer and continued investment in its core growth levers. It opened two new stores in the half – both in former Homebase sites – and has plans to open up to five more this year. Its estate transformation also continued, with 82% of stores now in the updated format.
The return to growth in Design & Installation follows enhancements made in late 2024 to improve the customer experience. Wickes said it has now delivered three consecutive quarters of ordered sales growth and achieved the first quarter of positive like-for-like delivered sales since Q2 2023.
Chief executive David Wood said: “In the first half of the year we have gone from strength to strength, with increased sales and record market share.
“Retail sales have grown again, driven by volumes, as more people shop with us, both in-store and online. In Design & Installation, the actions we took to improve the customer proposition are driving project order volumes and as a result we have returned to sales growth.”
Wickes said it remains “comfortable” with current market expectations for adjusted pre-tax profit for 2025, supported by ongoing productivity initiatives and a strong cash position of £158m at the half-year point.
Technology investment is also being stepped up to further enhance customer experience and support long-term productivity and profitability.
Wood added: “The continued investment in our growth levers underpins our market outperformance and leaves us well placed for the future as we target further profitable growth and value creation for shareholders.”
Wickes will report its full half-year results in mid-September.
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