White goods retailer AO World sees rise in sales thanks to Black Friday boost
Online retailer AO World defied Christmas woes to post a rise in revenue in the third quarter, boosted by strong Black Friday trading.
The white goods specialist said UK sales grew 4.4 per cent in the three months to the end of December, while overall group revenue was up 8.2 per cent.
But the firm saw its greatest success in Europe as a whole, with revenue soaring 31.3 per cent over the quarter.
AO World’s positive results come a day after so-called Super Thursday, when a host of retailers posted updates for their festive trading.
The Bolton-based company joins a small group of firms that have defied troubles on the high street to report a growth in sales.
AO World said the strong trading was driven by its extended Black Friday discounting.
Chief executive Steve Caunce said: "Against a challenging backdrop, the third quarter represents a solid performance across the AO group. We are on track with our plans as we continue to provide a great proposition for our customers.”
In December the retailer completed its takeover of website Mobile Phones Direct as part of an ongoing plan to broaden its product range.
AO World said its expectations for the full year remain unchanged.