31 July 2012

On the back of recent reports of negative growth in the UK economy and a 10 per cent increase in retail failures, the Shop and Display Equipment Association (sdea) reveals that its members’ sales are on the up! In the latest survey of its membership, the association reveals that exactly 60.0 per cent of respondents registered an increase in sales over the last six months compared with the same period last year. A further 20.0 per cent reported that sales had remained level.

Asked to quantify the growth in sales, the companies reported increases averaging 13.0 per cent.

Looking ahead over the next six months this upward trend looks set to continue. 40.1 per cent of those surveyed are expecting sales to increase and a further 56.0 per cent are anticipating maintaining similar sales levels. And it doesn’t stop there. Favourable results were also forecast for the next twelve months with 48.0 per cent confident of increased sales and another 48.0 per cent expecting similar sales figures.

sdea director, Lawrence Cutler says, “These are encouraging figures. Our survey indicates a renewed energy within the shopfittings and display market, which has been building slowly for some time. It is a testimony to the tenacity of established retail display suppliers who have shown again and again that investment in retail interiors can bring an immediate payback”.