Clothing retailer Next has today beaten guidance for sales in the run-up to Christmas, benefiting from a revival in demand for adult formal and occasionwear.
Next, which trades from about 500 stores and online, also raised its full-year profit outlook for a fifth time in 10 months.
Next said its full-price sales rose 20% in the eight weeks to December 25 compared to the same time in its 2019-20 year, before the pandemic impacted trading. That compares to guidance of a rise of 10.2%.
It forecast a full-year 2021-22 pretax profit of £822m, up from the £800m previously guided and up 9.8% on 2019-20.
As the first major British retailer to update on Christmas trading, Next set a high bar for rivals to follow as a strong online performance more than offset another fall in store sales.
Online sales rose 45%, while retail sales in the UK and Ireland fell 5.4%.
The group had expected sales growth in its fourth quarter to be weaker than the third.
However, it said a strong revival in Next branded adult formal and occasionwear significantly improved sales throughout the period.
Next has proved a resilient performer during the pandemic, benefiting from its long-established online operations.
Rivals with weaker or no online business, notably Primark, have seen large falls in sales. Others, such as Topshop-owner Arcadia, and Debenhams have gone bust.
Next said its initial guidance for the 2022-23 year is for full-price sales to rise 7% from the current 2021-22 year ending January 2022. It estimated its pretax profit would rise 4.6% to £860m.
The group said pressures on consumers' finances pointed to a tougher trading environment in 2022.
It forecast its prices would rise 3.7% in the first half and 6.0% in the second half due to higher freight rates and increased manufacturing costs.
Next also declared a further special dividend of 160 pence per share, worth £205m, to be paid at the end of January and said it intends to return to its pre-pandemic dividend cycle in the 2022-23 year.
Next shares are up 9% over the last year.
