In a challenging market landscape, The Very Group emerges victorious with a stellar Christmas season, witnessing remarkable sales growth driven by categories beyond traditional fashion. The company’s strong Christmas trading is attributed to the standout performances in «toys, gifts & beauty, and electrical categories.»
The Very UK division showcases an impressive 3.4% year-on-year surge in retail sales, contributing to an overall group retail sales uplift of 2.1%. Notably, it consistently outperformed the UK online non-food retail market, securing commendable market share growth.
Key highlights include an outstanding 8.8% rise in Toys, Gifts & Beauty, and a substantial 7.4% increase in the Electrical category. Best-selling items such as games consoles and Marc Jacobs perfumes contributed significantly to the success.
While the fashion & sports category experienced a marginal dip of 3.9%, there was a noteworthy surge of 14.7% in premium fashion. Home, however, witnessed a modest decline of 2.9%.
Although specific figures for Littlewoods and Very Ireland were not disclosed, indications suggest a potential decline for at least Littlewoods, considering the overall group sales slightly lagging behind the impressive Very UK numbers.
CEO Lionel Desclée expressed satisfaction, stating, «Our team delivered a brilliant range of products, strong pricing, an engaging new marketing campaign, and an improved online experience, providing families with everything they needed this Christmas.»
Looking ahead, Desclée acknowledges the challenges but emphasizes the resilience of The Very Group’s operating model. The combination of multi-category digital retail and flexible payment options positions the company as a reliable one-stop-shop for diverse family needs in the coming year.
As The Very Group celebrates a triumphant Christmas, it sets the stage for a confident stride into the future, leveraging strategic approaches to navigate the dynamic retail landscape.
