{"id":18819,"date":"2013-01-08T09:24:56","date_gmt":"2013-01-08T08:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/debenhams-posts-record-christmas-trading-080553878--finance.html"},"modified":"2013-01-08T09:24:56","modified_gmt":"2013-01-08T08:24:56","slug":"debenhams-posts-record-christmas-trading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/debenhams-posts-record-christmas-trading\/","title":{"rendered":"Debenhams Posts Record Christmas Trading"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Debenhams has revealed it has enjoyed its best Christmas sales ever.<\/p>\n

Like-for-like sales in the five weeks to January 5 climbed 5% – with online sales “ahead of expectations”, rising 39% over 18 weeks to the same date.<\/p>\n

The department store said figures were boosted by its seasonal advertising campaign, product range and online sales.<\/p>\n

Web sales accounted for 12.6% of total sales over the 18 week period, compared to 9.3% in the previous financial year.<\/p>\n

As a result, it said the higher than anticipated online sales would have an impact on its warehousing and distribution costs over the course of the year, which are expected to increase from 3.2% to 3.5% as a percentage of sales.<\/p>\n

The retailer also admitted it cut its prices ahead of Christmas because of greater promotional activity on the wider high street – a decision that hit its margins more than it had previously forecast.<\/p>\n

Michael Sharp, chief executive, said: “I am pleased with our performance in the first four months of our financial year.<\/p>\n

“The trading environment was extremely challenging but we focused on meeting the needs of our customers and executing the four pillars of our strategy.<\/p>\n

“I would like to thank the whole of the Debenhams team for their tremendous efforts in delivering this performance.<\/p>\n

“We continue to believe that whilst customers have become acclimatised to the new economic reality, we don’t anticipate a significant change in consumer confidence in the remainder of the year.<\/p>\n

“We remain committed to prudent investment in key areas of the business to deliver long-term substantial growth as well as driving shareholder value.”<\/p>\n

Debenhams is not the only retailer to buck the gloomy retail trend.<\/p>\n

On Monday, House of Fraser posted record trading results for the festive period, with like-for-like sales up 6.3% in the six weeks to January 5.<\/p>\n

Last week, John Lewis revealed it made \u00a3684.8m in the five weeks to December 29 – up almost 15% on the same period in 2011.<\/p>\n

All three retails giants – among the first to provide Christmas trading updates – have all reported a surge in online sales.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n

Debenhams has revealed it has enjoyed its best Christmas sales ever.<\/p>\n

Like-for-like sales in the five weeks to January 5 climbed 5% – with online sales “ahead of expectations”, rising 39% over 18 weeks to the same date.<\/p>\n

The department store said figures were boosted by its seasonal advertising campaign, product range and online sales.<\/p>\n

Web sales accounted for 12.6% of total sales over the 18 week period, compared to 9.3% in the previous financial year.<\/p>\n

As a result, it said the higher than anticipated online sales would have an impact on its warehousing and distribution costs over the course of the year, which are expected to increase from 3.2% to 3.5% as a percentage of sales.<\/p>\n

The retailer also admitted it cut its prices ahead of Christmas because of greater promotional activity on the wider high street – a decision that hit its margins more than it had previously forecast.<\/p>\n

Michael Sharp, chief executive, said: “I am pleased with our performance in the first four months of our financial year.<\/p>\n

“The trading environment was extremely challenging but we focused on meeting the needs of our customers and executing the four pillars of our strategy.<\/p>\n

“I would like to thank the whole of the Debenhams team for their tremendous efforts in delivering this performance.<\/p>\n

“We continue to believe that whilst customers have become acclimatised to the new economic reality, we don’t anticipate a significant change in consumer confidence in the remainder of the year.<\/p>\n

“We remain committed to prudent investment in key areas of the business to deliver long-term substantial growth as well as driving shareholder value.”<\/p>\n

Debenhams is not the only retailer to buck the gloomy retail trend.<\/p>\n

On Monday, House of Fraser posted record trading results for the festive period, with like-for-like sales up 6.3% in the six weeks to January 5.<\/p>\n

Last week, John Lewis revealed it made £684.8m in the five weeks to December 29 – up almost 15% on the same period in 2011.<\/p>\n

All three retails giants – among the first to provide Christmas trading updates – have all reported a surge in online sales.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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