Topps Tiles nails start to the year as Britons spruce up their homes
Topps Tiles enjoyed a jump in sales over the last three months, thanks to improving consumer confidence and a rise people doing up their homes.
Like-for-like sales increased by 4.4 per cent in the first 13 weeks of its new financial year to 2 January.
That compared with a 5.2 per cent rise in the same period last year but was an acceleration on the first eight weeks, when sales grew by 3.3 per cent.
Topps Tiles has 340 stores across the UK, including 13 of its smaller Boutique store format aimed at luring customers in more central and affluent areas such as Chelsea.
During the quarter, the retailer opened its second so-called lab concept store in Shoreditch trialling new features and layouts which, if successful, can then be rolled out nationally across its estate.
It also launched 17 ranges as it seeks to widen its appeal, with sales from lines launched in the last year accounting for 8.9 per cent of sales.
Chief executive Matt Williams, said: “Our strategy of out-specialising the specialists continues to be very effective and we are confident that our plan for 2016 will see us deliver additional profitable sales growth as we further extend the appeal of the Topps brand.”