Briscoe Group has reported a 1.76 per cent dip in its group sales to $171 million for the third quarter to October 26.

The group’s homeware sales grew 1.8 per cent, while its sporting goods sales were down 7.33 per cent.

The company attributed the decline in sporting goods sales to the transformation of its Panmure Rebel Sport store into a Rebel X concept flagship store. The store focuses on selling a broader range of products, immersive customer zones and integrated retail media, and is set to open in late November.

Briscoe’s online sales comprised 18.48 per cent of its total group sales, following the migration of its online stores to a new Adobe platform and the launch of its direct-to-customer platform Marketplacer. 

“The third quarter presented a mixed trading environment, with continued pressure on consumer sentiment and discretionary spending,” said group MD Rod Duke.

“Despite these challenges, the group remained focused on executing its strategic priorities, maintaining strong inventory discipline, and protecting gross profit margin performance.”

Briscoe shifted its focus from driving top-line sales to stabilising its gross profit margin percentage. 

“At half-year, the group had invested around 150 basis points of gross profit margin to deliver flat sales,” said Duke. 

“By adjusting promotional activity early in Q3, we significantly reduced the decline in gross profit margin percentage compared to last year’s level, with sporting goods actually exceeding the prior year’s margin by over 50 basis points.”

For the fourth quarter, Briscoe Group will continue to focus on improving sales and gross profit, with the expectation that cash rate reductions will boost consumer confidence to boost retail spending. 

“While we’re encouraged by recent monetary policy shifts, in the absence of a clear uplift in consumer sentiment, our full-year net profit after tax guidance (to 25 January 2026) remains at around $60 million,” said Duke.