Dixons Carphone today said in a fourth-quarter trading update that it was increasing its market share both online and in-store.
The retail group behind Currys PC World, a Leading retailer in IRUK Top500 research, and Carphone Warehouse, ranked Top50, said that it had had a strong performance in white goods, tablets and gaming. However sales of large-screen TVs were slightly down compared to last year when shoppers were buying to watch the World Cup.
UK and Ireland electrical sales were up by 2% in the 13 weeks to July 27, compared to the same time last year, while online electrical sales were 14% ahead. Dixons Carphone pointed to improved customer satisfaction and said that over this year it expected to increase its UK online range by 5,000 lines (SKUs).
Online was also strong in the retailer’s Nordic market, thanks in part to an improved click and collect service. Sales across all channels in that market were up by 4% on last time, with increased market share in the Finnish and Swedish markets, while sales in Greece were 7% up.
Elsewhere, Dixons Carphone said it had seen more shoppers opting to buy with credit and that a new line of protection services was gaining “good early traction”.
However sales in its UK and Ireland mobile phone business were down (-12%) “in a challenging traditional postpay market”.
“We’re on track with both our trading this year and our longer-term transformation,” said Dixons Carphone group chief executive Alex Baldock.
He added: “Our longer-term transformation is also on track. We made further gains in our big priorities of online, credit and services to help our customers choose, afford and enjoy amazing technology. Over time these will drive increasing benefits for our customers and help make us a much more sustainably valuable business.
“The current political and economic climate is volatile but, assuming no material disruption from that, we stand by our full year guidance, as we do our longer-term commitments on EBIT margin and cashflow.”
Image: InternetRetailing Media/Paul Skeldon
