Pureplay building materials disruptor CMO Group has seen revenues grow 63% to £38.2m and a gross profit boost from £3.4m to £7.4m in the first half of the year.
The company, set up to “revolutionise the shopping experience of homeowners and tradespeople to become the go to digital retailer of building materials”, has seen positive trading patterns emerge across 2021.
The group, which operates seven specialist websites – Roofingsuperstore.co.uk, Drainagesuperstore.co.uk, Insulationsuperstore.co.uk, Doorsuperstore.co.uk, Tileandfloorsuperstore.co.uk, cmotrade.co.uk, and totaltiles.co.uk– says it is the largest online-only retailer in its category. It also floated on the AIM Stock Exchange back in the Summer.
While the whole DIY supplies industry – like many others – has been impacted by the pandemic and supply chain issues caused by Brexit, it believes that its digital hybrid service model, which combines specialist advice and expertise and an asset light, predominantly dropship delivery method, has enabled the Group to mitigate and manage most of these effects.
Through a number of self-help initiatives, such as improved supply chain communications, increased real time stock feeds, expanded warehouse capacity for key lines; expansion of its courier network and upweighted customer communication to provide guidance on planning ahead, the retailer has also driven growth.
That said, CMO Group says that it anticipates that some of the recently announced government initiatives to address the shortage in HGV drivers, for example, will enable improvements in the medium term. As a result, the company’s board remains confident that the group’s trading remains in line with its expectations.
“Looking ahead,” says Dean Murray, CEO of CMO Group, “we are excited by the forthcoming launch of the CMO Trade App which is on track to launch early in Q4. This additional route to market combines our specialist advice and expertise, which will allow us to further service the next generation of digital natives and showcase our full catalogue in an easy to access smart phone experience. Our trade customer will benefit from a simplified shopping experience that offers the possibility for two-way conversation with chat on the go. It will offer exclusive product opportunities , and customer retention will be aided by push notifications. Our full suite of existing tools will now be directly in the hand of our trade customer saving them time. This development will position us well for future growth.”