Home improvement retailer Wickes has delivered a robust trading update, reporting a 6.9% year-on-year increase in group revenue to £533.1 million for the 17 weeks ending 26 April.
The company’s strong retail performance was a major driver of growth, with sales climbing 9.6% to £396.7 million. Wickes credited the success to increased customer transactions and solid demand across its building, garden, and decorating categories. The early May bank holiday saw the company record its highest-ever weekly sales of compost and top soil, boosted by unseasonably warm weather.
Trade sales also saw impressive momentum. The retailer’s TradePro loyalty scheme for trade professionals experienced a 13% increase in sales, while active membership rose by 14% to 605,000. Wickes said the growth reflected strong engagement from its core trade customer base.
Although retail and trade revenues soared, the design and installation segment saw a slight year-on-year decline of 0.4% to £136.4 million. Despite the dip, the company noted that revenue in this area was broadly flat compared to the previous year, following efforts in 2024 to improve the offer and customer experience.
Looking ahead, Wickes is accelerating its expansion plans with the conversion of four former Homebase stores already underway. The company aims to open five to seven new stores in 2025 as part of its growth strategy. It also plans to increase investment in technology to enhance the customer journey and drive productivity improvements across its operations.
Following a challenging profit report in March, Wickes said it is encouraged by the positive start to 2025 and believes it is “well positioned” to build on this momentum through the rest of the year.
