Including Card Factory revealing a strong Christmas and high expectations for the full-year.
The Source rounds up some of the key retail stories of the week.
Card Factory has reported a rise in Christmas sales, while it is also confident about its full-year profits. Fourth quarter like for likes were up between 1-3%. Full-year profits are likely to be ahead of expectations, which currently range from £80.9m to £83m. The retailer is planning to open some 50 new stores this year.
WH Smith reported a 1% increase in group like for like sales in the 21 weeks to January 21. Total sales were up 2% at the retailer.
John Lewis saw sales climb 4.9% to £77.4 million in the week ending January 21. Home was the strongest category – up 9.5% year on year – while the retailer’s new spring/summer clothing lines helped to boost the fashion category, with womenswear rising 16.2%.
Habitat is to trial standalone stores in certain areas of the UK, opening the first of the new format mini stores in Leeds this week, reports Retail Week. Following its acquisition by Sainsbury’s last year, Habitat shop-in-shops are also being installed in large Sainsbury’s stores.
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