ScS Group PLC TRADING UPDATE (5225U)

TIDMSCS

RNS Number : 5225U

ScS Group PLC

30 July 2020

 
 For Immediate Release   30 July 2020 
 

ScS Group plc

("ScS", or the "Group")

TRADING UPDATE

ScS, one of the UK's largest retailers of upholstered furniture and floorings, today issues the following trading update for the 52 weeks ended 25 July 2020, ahead of announcing its preliminary results on 29 September 2020.

Order intake across the year has been as follows:

 
 Period            Weeks           Date          Order intake vs 
                                                    prior year 
                            28 July 2019 to 21 
 Pre-lockdown     1 to 34       March 2020           (4.2%) 
                 --------  -------------------  ---------------- 
                   35 to    22 March to 23 May 
 Lockdown            43            2020              (92.5%) 
                 --------  -------------------  ---------------- 
                   44 to    24 May to 25 July 
 Post-lockdown       52            2020               92.2% 
                 --------  -------------------  ---------------- 
 
                            28 July 2019 to 25 
 Full year        1 to 52        July 2020           (5.9%) 
                 --------  -------------------  ---------------- 
 

As previously reported, following a challenging autumn period, trading improved over the winter sales period with momentum increasing prior to lockdown. Order intake growth was strong in the first seven weeks (late January to mid-March) of the second half of the financial year. However, as the table illustrates, this was impacted by the mandatory closure of all our stores on 23 March 2020. Whilst we saw a significant increase in online orders during the lockdown period, the Group as a whole experienced a decrease in bookings year on year.

Encouragingly, post-lockdown trading has been very strong both in-store and online, with Group order intake increasing 92.2% when compared to the same period in the prior year. This reflects pent up demand, which has been supported by our well executed re-opening plans, our continued focus on value and customer service, and our increased investment in targeted marketing over the last two months.

Delivered sales for the 52 weeks ended 25 July 2020 were GBP268m, which compares to GBP333m in the prior year. The reduction was driven by the temporary closure from late March to late May of our distribution network and our manufacturing partners' facilities.

As our furniture products are made to order, and normally have lead times ranging from 5 to 13 weeks, the recent strong order intake performance means the Group's opening order book for the new financial year is significantly higher than in the previous year. The majority of these orders will be delivered in the first quarter of the next financial year.

Financial position

On 17 March 2020, the Group drew down GBP12m from its revolving credit facility ('RCF'). As noted in our trading update on 26 May 2020, including the GBP12m RCF, the Group held GBP48.3m in cash.

Since the end of May, the GBP12m borrowed under the RCF has been repaid and cash on the balance sheet has grown to GBP82.3m. This compares to GBP57.7m of cash at the end of July 2019. The increase has been driven by the Group's negative working capital model, benefiting from the order intake over the past few weeks, coupled with effective cash management actions that the Group has undertaken in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Looking forward

Whilst it is too early to provide clarity on the outlook for the weeks and months ahead, the Group is encouraged with its trading performance since re-opening on 23 May 2020.

The Board would again like to thank our colleagues for their ongoing dedication and professionalism during this time, as well as our customers, shareholders, and wider stakeholders for their continued support.

ScS is a resilient business, with a strong balance sheet, coupled with a flexible cost base, and is well positioned to navigate these difficult circumstances and maximise opportunities as and when they arise.

Next scheduled update

The Group will announce its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 25 July 2020 on Tuesday 29 September 2020.

An analyst briefing will be held at 9.30am on the morning of the results, details of which will be provided in due course.

Enquiries:

 
 ScS Group PLC                            c/o Buchanan [phone] 
  David Knight, Chief Executive Officer    5000 
  Chris Muir, Chief Financial Officer 
 
 Buchanan                                 Tel: [phone] 
  Richard Oldworth                         [e-mail] 
  Tilly Abraham 
  Charlotte Slater 
 

Notes to editors

ScS is one of the UK's largest retailers of upholstered furniture and floorings, promoting itself as the "Sofa Carpet Specialist", seeking to offer value and choice through a wide range of upholstered furniture and flooring products. The Group's product range is designed to appeal to a broad customer base with a mid-market priced offering and is currently traded from 100 stores.

The Group's upholstered furniture business specialises primarily in fabric and leather sofas and chairs. ScS sells a range of branded products which are not sold under registered trademarks and a range of branded products which are sold under registered trademarks owned by ScS (such as Endurance, Inspire and SiSi Italia). The Group also offers a range of third party brands (which include La-Z-Boy and G Plan). The Company's flooring business includes carpets, as well as laminate and vinyl flooring.

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July 30, 2020 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)