The document summarizes a Christmas sales report from FSP Retail Business Consultants. It found that 2014 Christmas sales were a success, with only 3 of the big 4 grocers and a few other retailers reporting a dip in sales. It provides sales data for various retail categories showing most had sales increases. The number of retailer administrations was lower than in recent difficult years like 2008 and 2011. Overall, 2014 Christmas trading was positive for most retailers included in the report.

1. FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Christmas Sales Report
20 January 2015

2. 2 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Comment
In our first Christmas Sales Report we commented on the likely impact of Black Friday on
post-Christmas sales. It is not possible to disaggregate the effect as most retailers report for
periods including the 28
th
November. However, as almost all reports are positive, if Black
Friday had an impact, it was not to the detriment of overall sales increases. Whether the
same can be said for margin, we shall have to wait and see.
With only three of the big four grocers, Game and, of course, M&S reporting a dip in their
sales, Christmas 2014 looks to have been a success. Retailers have upped their game in
response to the demands of internet-savvy consumers and, as the online results show,
every customer and every type of purchase is pushing the sales up, from Ted Baker to
Bonmarché and from Paperchase to Maplin.
Please see the individual categories for a comprehensive view of trading reported so far.
Number of retailers by category included in the Average LfL graph:
2012/13 2013/14 2014/15
Clothing & Footwear 8 14 15
Personal 5 6 7
Food & Beverage* 8 7 5
Leisure 6 6 7
Household 7 7 7
Department Stores 5 7 6
Grocery 16 11 12

3. 3 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Christmas Trading and
Administrations
FSP records Christmas casualties as those who fail during the key period of Christmas Eve
to the middle of January. After the harsh years of 2008 and 2011, things looked much
brighter last year, and with the number of failures during the whole year significantly down on
all recent years, we were hopeful for a repetition of Christmas 2013. Then Bank failed
closely followed by USC, whilst things aren’t looking good for Austin Reed which is closing
stores and considering a CVA. For USC, Christmas is undoubtedly irrelevant and this is just
a restructuring exercise.
The number of retailers recorded on SnapShop entering administration in each of the past
few years is:
2014 – 9
2013 – 43
2012 – 44
2011 – 57
2010 – 42
2009 – 93
2008 – 56

4. 4 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
All Retailers
(Cont….)

5. 5 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
All Retailers (continued)

6. 6 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
)
3 Year Comparison
Retailers shown where 3 years’ of data are available

7. 7 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Merchandise Groups
Department Stores

8. 8 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Clothing & Footwear

9. 9 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Grocery

10. 10 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Household Goods
Personal Goods

11. 11 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Food & Beverage
Leisure Goods

12. 12 FSP Christmas Sales Report - 20 January 2014 FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Online Sales
FSP Christmas Sales Report Methodology
FSP seeks to gain an accurate review of the Christmas period, hence the period end date
must be at least Christmas Eve and no later than the end of January; the period must be
13 weeks or less.
Online Sales are always shown as Total changes.
Graphs are ranked in order, highest to lowest, first by Like-for-Like change, then by Total
change
www.fspretail.com
FSP has gone to its best efforts to ensure this data is correct but the author reserves the right not to be responsible for the accuracy
of information provided.

13. FSP RETAIL BUSINESS
CONSULTANTS
19 Manor Courtyard
Hughenhen Avenue
High Wycombe
UK, HP13 5RE
T +44(0)1494 474740
F +44(0)1494 474262
fspretail@fspretail.com
www.fspretail.com
www.snap-shop.co.uk
Heidi Roberts
Operations Director
T +44(0)1494 474740
F +44(0)1494 474262
Heidi@fspretail.com
Tanu Bajaj
Business Analyst
T +44(0)1494 474740
F +44(0)1494 474262
Tanu@fspretail.com
Bekki Bedford
Admin Manager
T +44(0)1494 474740
F +44(0)1494 474262
Bekki@fspretail.com