Harvey Norman lifts Q3 sales by 0.6%

Home appliances and furniture and bedding are two categories that continue to drive Harvey Norman’s success.

The CE retailer has reported that global sales, which includes operations in Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia/Croatia, Ireland and North Ireland, was up 0.6 per cent and totalled $1.28 billion for the period for 1 January 2013 to 31 March 2013. For the same period, like-for-like sales were up 2 per cent.
Meanwhile, Australia total sales with Easter trading adjusted was up 2.1 per cent, while like-for-like sales it was up 3.4 per cent.

“Even though technology categories continue to be challenged, the market appears to be stabilising despite the stubbornly high Australian dollar,” the company said in a statement.

The company also said it continues to consolidate underperforming stores. It closed 11 Harvey Norman complexes but managed to open six new complexes and one Domayne branded store. Closures of its discontinued Clive Peeters and Rick Hart businesses also continue.