Value group Studio Retail has recorded a 55% sales increase year on year in the 11 weeks since April 23.
The online retailer reported strong demand in categories such as toys, games, electricals, fitness and garden during the coronavirus pandemic.
Studio drew an influx of new customers, as well as repeat purchases from its established shoppers, bringing its active customer base to 2 million.
The group reduced its marketing spend in lockdown, focusing on television and digital marketing only to drive new traffic to its website.
Studio said it undertook “proactive” inventory management by reacting to consumer demand.
Group chief executive Phil Maudsley added: “Studio’s multi-year transformation to become a digital value retailer means we have been well-placed to adapt to the current environment.
“The group’s response to the lockdown has been exceptional, not only with our strong trading performance and relevance to customers’ needs but also via our internal agility in responding to the operational challenges presented by Covid-19.
“I have been particularly pleased by the number of new customers we have welcomed in recent weeks. Customers who have never shopped with us before have been impressed by the choice, value, and service we have to offer. Whilst we will face increased competition from the high street over the coming months, we are confident that the strength of our offer will continue to resonate amongst value-conscious shoppers.
“The overall market does remain volatile, and we are cautious about the risks to customer incomes for the remainder of the year. However, we have positioned ourselves strongly to manage these risks, and longer-term, we are well-positioned to respond to any permanent shifts in online consumer behaviour.”
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