Leicestershire retailer wipes the floor as sales approach £50m

Hinckley-based online flooring retailer UK Flooring Direct is on course to break through the £50 million sales barrier following a stellar 2019 which saw it significantly increase its market share.

The company grew its sales by 28 per cent last year, selling 1.8 sq m of flooring – more than enough to cover every room of every house in its home town.

The firm’s performance runs counter to the national retail picture, which has seen many businesses struggle against a backdrop of declining sales.

Chief executive Jason Ashby said: “We had another strong year against a backdrop of difficult conditions for traditional retailers and with consumer confidence slightly down because of a range of factors that led to economic uncertainty.

“We recognised from day one that customer shopping habits are changing and they want to be able to access the information they want anytime, anywhere and that is what digital allows you to do.

“Understanding what the customer wants is vital to successful retail and we continue to do everything we can to provide great products and great service. These are big ticket items for our customers so we have to get it right.

“We are delighted to achieve 28 per cent growth in 2019 and it is testament to the great team we have built here that we continue to increase our market share in the sector.

“It marks 100 per cent growth over the past three years which has been a really important period for the business. We moved to our new headquarters in Hinckley, have been developing the team and continuously investing in technology.

“At the same time, we have worked really hard to ensure we are a positive contributor to the local area as an employer by making this a great place to work and also as a neighbour by supporting local charities and community groups.

“We are looking forward to continuing that over the coming weeks, months and years.”

Ashby founded the firm in 2005 with just £500 and a £299 investment in a website.