Carpetright said today there there was room to do more with a toolbox of self-help measures that include investment in digital as it looks to boost its business in an uncertain economy.
Lord Harris, executive chairman of the carpets-to-beds multichannel retailer, said that to date, “our self-help measures have enabled us to grow sales within a different [UK] market.” And, he said, while the UK “pace of recovery remains uncertain in the face of continuing sales volatility, we are confident that our self-help measures have further potential.”
The comments came as the company reported a 1.9% increase in UK like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to January 25, compared to the same time last year. Total sales in that period were up by 0.6%. However, its rest of Europe business saw total sales fall by 7.5% (or 6.3%, after the impact of currency movement) and like-for-like sales down by 7.7%.
Carpetright also warned that full-year profits would be below current expectations as the result of a further weakening of the Dutch market.
The retailer has previously spelt out a self-help approach that includes store refurbishment, the increased use of digital media and the development of its product ranges.
