Given the exceptional performance of all retail sectors last month, it’s not surprising that many retailers didn’t follow the same upward trend this month. Sporting was the biggest hit experiencing a more than 12 per cent drop on last month and nearly seven per cent on the same month last year.

Furniture creeps up

Furniture was a super high performer last month with almost 35 per cent growth on the month prior and that trend continued this month with a 3 per cent growth on last month proving positive results for the Furniture and Homewares industry as we move head on into Christmas.

Pre-Christmas sales

Contrary to usual pre-Christmas retail behaviour, many sales are beginning prior to Christmas as opposed to the traditional Boxing Day sales. Many Furniture, Homewares and Electronics retailers have introduced 40-50 per cent off sales leading into the Christmas season and the results suggest this tactic may be paying off with a slight improvement on last year’s results as well.

Is this a new tactic to improve sales and performance? Let us know your thoughts below.

Fashion leads the way compared with last year

There were very small improvements on the super high performing month of October but Fashion outperformed itself compared with the same period last year. It was a slight upward trend of just over 2 per cent but still a positive result none the less. Given Fashion’s seasonal dependence, the weather may have impacted this positive movement compared with last year.

As we move into the last and most important month of the year for retailers across Australia, we look forward to bringing you very positive sales results next month as we report on Christmas sales and activity across the 3 major sectors of Fashion, Furniture and Sporting.

Written by Aaron Blackman CEO of Retail Express. Retail data drawn from the AustralianRetailIndex.com.au

Access exclusive analysis, locked news and reports with Inside Retail Weekly. Subscribe today and get our premium print publication delivered to your door every week.