Dunelm’s first quarter sales rise despite supply chain disruption
Dunelm grew its total sales by 8.3% to £388.8 million in its first quarter as it continued to make market share gains.
The homewares retailer said the performance in the 13 weeks to 25 September was mainly driven customers’ positive response to its summer sale, improved product availability and new ranges in its furniture categories.
Meanwhile, online sales increased by 20% in the period.
Nick Wilkinson, chief executive of Dunelm, said: “We are pleased with our performance in the first quarter, with sales growth across all channels and continued market share gains, especially given the strength of the comparative period last year, which benefited from pent-up demand following the first UK lockdown.
“We continue to invest in enhancing our market leading proposition to win more customers who shop more frequently across Dunelm’s expanding range. For example, we have now developed a ‘my favourites’ functionality online, which is another step in getting closer to our customers and making their homewares shopping as easy as possible.”
Looking ahead, the retailer said it is continuing to work with its long-term suppliers and partners to mitigate the impact of supply chain disruption and inflationary pressures from freight and driver shortages.
It added: “Whilst we are not immune to the challenges being widely reported, we feel well placed relatively to manage them.”
