Comet, the UK’s leading electrical retailer, has announced its best ever web generated sales performance for the Christmas Sales period* with sales value increasing over 32 per cent year on year.   Popular products, like LCD and plasma TV’s were sold or secured for pick up in store (Click & Collect) up to two per minute at the busiest times on the company’s website.

The strategic decision by Comet.co.uk (http://www.comet.co.uk) to launch its January Sale campaign online on 25th December resulted in sales on Christmas Day increasing by 700 per cent year on year. Subsequent days also showed very strong year on year growth.

The biggest on-line sales week recorded was w/c 23rd December, the first time it has been this late.  Historically, sales peak the week before, depending on the last delivery date before Christmas.

Having conducted market research among 2000 of its online customers before Christmas, Comet knew that this year’s most popular service was ‘Click & Collect’ (44 per cent of those polled).  Its ‘Click & Collect’ service enables customers to order products on Comet.co.uk and then collect them from store as little as 30 minutes later.  During its peak trading week, over 65 per cent of its online customers opted to collect their orders from store.   This included those people choosing to order products online on Christmas Day and collect them from store on Boxing Day.

The top selling web generated products were the Nintendo Wii, and Tom Tom satellite navigation systems pre Christmas  - and the Samsung 40” HD TV at under £700 and the HP £399 2GB Pentium Dual Core Laptop with 15 inch screen were the best sellers on Boxing Day.

Commenting on its Christmas trading results, Bob Darke, Commercial  Director at Comet, says:

 “All things considered, we are pleased with our web generated sales performance.  Our strong online presence has bolstered sales performance overall for Comet.  We have the advantage that we are able to offer a physical shopping environment, a dedicated after sales service network and excellent sales advisors on the ground to support our web generated business”.  Darke, however, adds a note of caution: “There is certainly no room for complacency in a market that continues to be very competitive - we shall continue to build on this success to further develop our multi channel proposition in the coming months.”

* 1 November to 8 January


For further information contact:
Karen Alden
Comet Press Office
Tel: 44 (0)1923 714556
Or go to: http://press.comet.co.uk
http://www.comet.co.uk


Editor’s Note:

Comet is the second largest electrical retailer in the UK and part of Kesa Electricals plc, a pan-European group