Sofa slump

Dec 3 2007 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SOFA retailer ScS Upholstery today warned that half-year results would take a significant hit as nervous consumers shunned “big ticket” items.

The Sunderland-based group, which has a store at Leeds Road Retail Park in Huddersfield, said same-store sales orders had fallen by 16% since the end of July amid tougher trading conditions.

The group said consumers had been affected by higher interest rates and the squeeze in credit markets.

ScS is launching an aggressive advertising campaign in a bid to boost trading in the key Boxing Day and January sales periods.

The company’s half-year trading period runs until January 26.

ScS said it was also reviewing costs across the business as it seeks to offset falling sales.

ScS said it was too early to predict whether full results would miss expectations, with some of its busiest trading seasons still to come.