Dunelm benefits as economy improves

D​unelm​ Group, the homeware retailer founded by Leeds couple Bill and Jean Adderley,​ ​reported a nine per cent leap in like-for-like sales in the first quarter on higher demand for its products and weak comparatives ​with​ last year when warm weather hit sales.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Oct 2014, 10:30 BST

The company, which sells bedding, curtains​ and​ furniture, has benefited from ​direct sourcing from factories​, an improving UK economy, new store openings and​ a better​ online ​service​.​

The group, which has 137 superstores across the UK, said that total sales rose 17 per​ ​cent to ​£​180.6​m in the 13 weeks ​to ​Sept​ember 27.​

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Chief executive Will Adderley said: “Our sales performance has been strong in the first quarter, driven partly by soft comparatives from last year but also by the strength of the Dunelm offer and an increasing awareness of that offer across the UK.

“As we look forward, our focus is very much on driving sales. We intend to capitalise on the significant investments we have made, and continue to make, across our business to underpin long term growth and we intend to keep on delivering excellent value and service to our customers.

“Despite the inevitable short-term impact of those investments, I am confident that we can continue to deliver significant profitable growth over the years to come.”

Bill and Jean Adderley founded Dunelm at a Leicester curtain stall in 1979.

The couple opened their first Dunelm shop in Leicester in 1984, followed by their first superstore, in Rotherham, seven years later.

Related topics:DunelmLeedsLeicesterRotherham