Briscoe Group on Monday announced it had lifted third-quarter sales by 5.7 per cent year on year to $140.3 million, and group managing director Rod Duke said he was feeling “confident” at the start of the crucial Christmas trading period.
“The group has delivered very solid sales growth during this third quarter in a highly competitive retail market,” Duke said.
“As we commence the crucial final quarter we remain confident that we have the right programmes in place to continue to deliver quality products, service and shopping experience to ensure that we remain the first choice for homeware and sporting goods in New Zealand across our store network and online.”
Briscoe Group, which operates the Briscoes Homeware, Living & Giving and Rebel Sport chains, reported unaudited sales of $87.9 million in the homewares category and $87.9 million in the sporting goods category in the 13 weeks to October 27, 2019.
These figures reflect a year on year increase of 4.7 per cent and 7.4 per cent respectively.
On a same-store basis, homeware sales in the quarter increased by 4.7 per cent year on year and by 3.2 per cent for sporting goods. On a group-level, same-stores were 4.1 per cent higher than the corresponding period last year.
The same-store calculation adjusts for the new Rebel Sport stores that the group opened at Papanui shopping centre in Christchurch in November 2018 and at Westfield Newmarket in Auckland in September 2019.
Year-to-date sales totaled $443.3 million for the period from January 28, 2019, to October 27, 2019, an increase of 4.1 per cent on the $426 million achieved in the first three quarters of last year.
The group’s homeware segment increased sales by 3.2 per cent during this period and the sporting goods segment by 5.5 per cent. Online sales were 20 per cent higher during this period, compared to the previous corresponding period.
On a same-store basis the group’s sales for the nine month period ended October 27, 2019, were 3.2 per cent ahead of the same period last year.
Same-store sales in the homeware category increased by 3.3 per cent, while same-store sporting goods sales increased by 2.9 per cent compared to the first three quarters of last year.
“We continue to expand our store network and look forward to the opening of the new Briscoes Homeware and Rebel Sport stores, including online fulfilment centres, in Mt Roskill, Auckland at the end of November,” Duke said.
