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Argos and Dixons triumph during Christmas sales as online retail booms Argos and Dixons triumph during Christmas sales as online retail booms
(about 3 hours later)
Argos and Dixons have emerged as winners from the Christmas battle of Britain's retailers, as booming online orders drove sales.Argos and Dixons have emerged as winners from the Christmas battle of Britain's retailers, as booming online orders drove sales.
Sales at Argos stores open a year or more rose 3.8% to £1.8bn in the trading period covering Christmas while equivalent sales at Dixons in the UK and Ireland jumped 5%.Sales at Argos stores open a year or more rose 3.8% to £1.8bn in the trading period covering Christmas while equivalent sales at Dixons in the UK and Ireland jumped 5%.
Argos is owned by Home Retail Group, which also owns Homebase while Dixons trades on the high street through Currys and PC World.Argos is owned by Home Retail Group, which also owns Homebase while Dixons trades on the high street through Currys and PC World.
Both groups said online sales were a big part of their success. Business over the internet made up almost half of Argos's sales as shoppers made more purchases using tablet computers and mobile phones.Both groups said online sales were a big part of their success. Business over the internet made up almost half of Argos's sales as shoppers made more purchases using tablet computers and mobile phones.
At their peak, sales using tablets and phones were almost 30% of Argos's business.At their peak, sales using tablets and phones were almost 30% of Argos's business.
Sales of tablets were strong while demand for video games consoles often outstripped Argos's ability to supply the goods.Sales of tablets were strong while demand for video games consoles often outstripped Argos's ability to supply the goods.
Both businesses were written off as dinosaurs a few years ago but have revived themselves by homing in on internet shopping. Argos had its best Christmas trading for more than 10 years as customers ordered online and picked up goods in shops.Both businesses were written off as dinosaurs a few years ago but have revived themselves by homing in on internet shopping. Argos had its best Christmas trading for more than 10 years as customers ordered online and picked up goods in shops.
Terry Duddy, Home Retail's chief executive, said: "Customers are looking for strong availability instore for must-have gifts, particularly tablets and video games. They want those products with absolute immediacy."Terry Duddy, Home Retail's chief executive, said: "Customers are looking for strong availability instore for must-have gifts, particularly tablets and video games. They want those products with absolute immediacy."
Tablet sales boomed at Dixons along with demand for large televisions and kitchen gadgets. After a frantic period around "Black Friday" sales at the end of November, business quietened down but "took off like a rocket" from Boxing Day when Dixons took £100,000 a minute, chief executive Seb James said.Tablet sales boomed at Dixons along with demand for large televisions and kitchen gadgets. After a frantic period around "Black Friday" sales at the end of November, business quietened down but "took off like a rocket" from Boxing Day when Dixons took £100,000 a minute, chief executive Seb James said.
"This has been a lively Christmas with plenty of ups and downs and I am pleased to report that we have turned in a good performance," he said."This has been a lively Christmas with plenty of ups and downs and I am pleased to report that we have turned in a good performance," he said.
But he warned that business would be more moderate for the rest of the financial year. Consumers squeezed by falling real incomes are expected to tighten their belts to recover from Christmas.But he warned that business would be more moderate for the rest of the financial year. Consumers squeezed by falling real incomes are expected to tighten their belts to recover from Christmas.
"These are good numbers, but I am mindful that what recovery there is in the UK is still fledgling," James said."These are good numbers, but I am mindful that what recovery there is in the UK is still fledgling," James said.
Internet sales have helped mark out retail's winners and losers over the crucial Christmas trading period. Next was able to withstand pressure to reduce prices because of its top-notch internet operation while Debenhams, which is weak online, resorted to a failed strategy of aggressive promotions. Morrisons blamed its lack of online capability partly for the worst performance of Britain's big supermarkets.Internet sales have helped mark out retail's winners and losers over the crucial Christmas trading period. Next was able to withstand pressure to reduce prices because of its top-notch internet operation while Debenhams, which is weak online, resorted to a failed strategy of aggressive promotions. Morrisons blamed its lack of online capability partly for the worst performance of Britain's big supermarkets.
On a busy day for retail news, a string of other companies announced strong Christmas trading including Associated British Foods, which owns Primark, Halfords and online grocer Ocado, which started delivering for Morrisons this week.On a busy day for retail news, a string of other companies announced strong Christmas trading including Associated British Foods, which owns Primark, Halfords and online grocer Ocado, which started delivering for Morrisons this week.
Primark had "excellent" Christmas sales with strong performance at established stores, Associated British Foods said. Sales at Ocado jumped 21% in the six weeks to 6 January but like Dixons the company warned that the market is tough with "consumer sentiment subdued". Primark had "excellent" Christmas sales with strong performance at established stores, Associated British Foods said. Sales at Ocado jumped 21% in the six weeks to 6 January but like Dixons, the company warned that the market is tough with "consumer sentiment subdued".
Like-for-like sales at Halfords were up 5.2% in the 15 weeks to 10 January as the bike and car accessories seller gained from the boom in bicycle sales, which were up by almost 20%.Like-for-like sales at Halfords were up 5.2% in the 15 weeks to 10 January as the bike and car accessories seller gained from the boom in bicycle sales, which were up by almost 20%.
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