Sofa and carpet specialist SCS unveiled positive like-for-likes in its first quarter as it continues to sidestep the big-ticket slowdown caused by tough market conditions. 

In a statement ahead of its AGM today, the value-orientated retailer said group like-for-like order intake rose 2.9% in the 16 weeks to November 18.

Its chairman Alan Smith said the retailer has made “a good start to the financial year” with two-year like-for-likes up 8%. 

He added that, while like-for-likes rose 3.6% at its core business – consisting of 100 standalone showrooms – order numbers declined at its House of Fraser concessions.

The retailer, which has 27 concessions within the department store chain, said like-for-like orders declined 6.4% “against very strong comparatives”.

This part of the business represented 6.2% of its overall order intake during the period.

Looking ahead, Smith said: “While it is still early in the current financial year, the group continues to trade in line with our expectations.

“We believe the group’s increasing resilience and value proposition will enable us to manage the continued economic uncertainty and take advantage of opportunities.”

ScS plans to open its 101st store on Boxing Day.

Topics