Very posts Christmas sales rise bolstered by credit offering

Very.co.uk has reported a 6.1% uplift in retail sales year on year in the seven weeks to December 27, driven by increased revenue across all of its product categories.

Total revenue including financial services rose 3.2% year on year, boosted by a 22% rise in new credit customers during the period.

However, across The Very Group including Littlewoods overall revenue was flat year on year, while retail sales rose 2.5%.

Fashion and sportswear sales at Very.co.uk rose 9.6% during the period bolstered by a 19.8% uplift in sportswear sales specifically, while electricals and home sales rose 5.7% and 1.4% respectively.

The number of website visits to Very.co.uk increased 14.4% year on year to 92.5 million, while sales via the Very app increased 32.3%.

Chief executive Henry Birch said: “Our team worked tirelessly to give our four million customers an amazing Black Friday and Christmas. Following a relatively subdued autumn across the sector, I’m delighted with Very.co.uk’s strong retail sales growth during the hugely competitive festive period.

“More than at any other time, our customers value being able to spread the cost on the brands they love at Christmas. This year we laid on the best and most relevant deals, made them easier to find than ever before through personalised experiences, and offered even greater flexibility for when and how they were delivered.

“We’ll continue this momentum in 2020 as The Very Group, with our rebrand the latest milestone in our company’s long history. We’ll continue to build the best possible place to work and, through data and technology-led innovation, help even more customers say yes when it really matters.”