Sofa so good for csl’s festive sales
SOFA retailer csl reported an increase in like-for-like sales of 3.3% in the four weeks to Boxing Day despite reduced footfall at its retail park locations.
Total sales at the family-owned company, including new stores in Hull, Croydon and Brent Cross, were up 36.8% during the same period. It added that it expected the amount of orders taken for the whole of 2011 to reach £80m by the end of 2011 – a £10m increase on the previous 12 months.
The Wigan-based company, which operates 21 stores across the UK, said said its stores at Brent Cross Shopping Park in North West London and Croydon were performing ahead of expectations.
The stores are part of csl’s plan to push beyond its northern heartland into the south of England with 18 new store openings planned by 2015. A store is due to open at Lakeside Thurrock in Essex during the summer.
Managing director Jason Tyldesley said: “The combination of reduced household expenditure and job insecurity has led to significantly reduced footfall across Britain’s retail parks. Despite this fairly bleak backdrop, we’ve managed to win over new customers and increase our market share.
“Being family owned and debt-free, we’ve had the ability to invest in our brand – in new stores, technology, marketing, customer service and product – while maintaining a highly competitive pricing strategy.
“We’re confident of securing further growth over the coming year as we scale up the business in the South East and continue to introduce new innovations.”
csl was founded by husband and wife Brian and Margaret Tyldesley in 1984 with a single store in Burnley, Lancashire. The company has been run by their 38 year-old son Jason for the last 12 years and now employs almost 700 people.
