Gear4music sees sales leap during lockdown

The York-based firm, which is the UK’s biggest online retailer of musical instruments and music equipment, said UK sales rose 80 per cent in April, May and June, whilst international sales rose 55 per cent, giving it a 68 per cent leap in total sales.

The group said trading in the first quarter of the current year is now expected to be ahead of the board's expectations.

Gear4music's chief executive, Andrew Wass, said: "The Covid-19 lockdown created an exceptionally strong period of trading for the group during April and May 2020, and further strong trading in June resulted in first quarter revenue growth of 68 per cent compared with the same period last year.

"The strong trading momentum has continued into July, and we continue to achieve higher gross margins and with a lower marketing cost than we would typically expect, alongside a controlled cost base.

"As a result, and whilst still early in the current financial year, the board is confident that a significant improvement in profits will be achieved for the full financial year, which are now expected to be meaningfully ahead of our previous expectations."