DFS gives Covid-19 lockdown update
DFS has said all of its furniture showrooms in England, Wales and Ireland are currently closed due to lockdown restrictions, although at present it does not expect this to have a significant impact on revenue and profitability for the first half of its financial year.
The Covid-19 restrictions mean that 181 of of its 208 showrooms are now shuttered, but outlets in all other territories are open and trading. The retailer is expecting its seven Welsh showrooms to reopen on 9 November.
DFS said its websites across all brands and territories are still in operation and performing well. The retailer is temporarily transfering showroom staff to other areas of the business where some will be working to remotely assist customers with online orders.
In a statement, DFS said: “Notwithstanding the showroom restrictions, we continue to manufacture, deliver and install orders safely into customer homes in all territories. Given the current very strong order bank levels, and the delivery lead times we are therefore operating at, we do not expect that this period of showroom closure will materially impact revenues and profitability for the first 26 weeks to 27 December 2020.”
