Furniture retailer ScS has opened its 100th UK store and has seen trading return to growth after a tougher period at the end of last year.
The Sunderland-based firm has issued a trading update reporting 2.6% growth over the last 10 weeks, which includes the sector’s key winter sale period. That rise in sales comes after like-for-like orders fell by 9.1% between July and November last year, though the company said those figures were impacted by a tough comparator in the previous year.
ScS also revealed in the update that it was continuing to invest in its operations and expanding its estate, with new stores in York and Swindon taking its number of shops back over the 100 mark. In the stock market note to shareholders the company said its balance sheet remained strong, with cash of £76.9m and no debt. It also highlighted “challenging and unpredictable” economic conditions.
