REG - CMO Group PLC - Trading Update (unaudited)

CMOAnnouncement

09/08/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 8094Z  CMO Group PLC  09 August 2024

9 August 2024

CMO Group PLC

("CMO" or "the Group")

Trading Update (unaudited)

 

CMO Group PLC, the UK's largest online-only retailer of building materials,
today announces a trading update for the seven months ended 31 July 2024.

 

Trading

 

As reported at the preliminary results in May, poor weather in Q1 had a
detrimental effect on sales, with sales particularly soft in the Tiles
business. The Group has seen an improving sales trend and positive momentum
through Q2 and July. Sales for H1 2024 were £30.3m (H1 2023: £36.9m). In
July, there was a strong performance from the PLUMBING SUPERSTORE where
like-for-like sales increased 9.6%.

 

 Like-for-like sales(1)  Q1       Q2       H1       July
 Building                (16.2)%  (10.0)%  (13.0)%  (0.4)%
 Plumbing                (19.5)%  (3.3)%   (12.4)%  9.6%
 Tiles                   (41.9)%  (30.1)%  (36.3)%  (27.5)%
 Total                   (21.3)%  (12.8)%  (17.0)%  (3.4)%

 

Average Order Value (AOV) is improving as we see consumer confidence returning
to larger RMI projects, in line with trends reported in the wider market.

 

Whilst market conditions remain challenging, the Group continues to be
optimistic about maintaining the improving sales trend given developments in
the market and the recent cut in interest rates.

 

Continued Progress on Strategy

 

Group Margin remains stable with continued focus on improving product margin,
maintaining carriage cost recovery as well as bringing digital marketing spend
down to or below 6%. We have been effective at reducing costs in H1 and will
continue to focus on this in H2.

 

Our new loyalty programme 'Super Rewards' was launched in June and early
indicators are positive, with orders within the 'Super Rewards' programme
around double normal AOV so far.

 

We continue our mission to bring the widest range to the market with
LANDSCAPING SUPERSTORE fully launched and taking orders.

 

Balance sheet

 

The Group continues to have a sound financial position. Cash at the end of H1
2024 stood at £2.3m (H1 2023: £4.7m), with net debt of £2.5m and available
facilities of £3.0m.

 

Dean Murray, CEO of CMO Group PLC, said:

 

"We are pleased to see early signs of market recovery and are further
encouraged by the interest rate cut last week, which will stimulate the
market.

 

The full launch of the LANDSCAPING SUPERSTORE marks further, great progress in
our mission to provide our customers with everything they need to build or
maintain a home. We also look forward to seeing how the 'Super Rewards'
programme enhances customer loyalty as it rewards for spend and behaviours.

 

The positive sales momentum shown throughout Q2 and into July, combined with
our focus on profitable sales and becoming a more efficient business, means
that we remain confident about the future."

 

1. Note: like-for-like sales numbers provided are for sales, which are
slightly different to the order intake figures provided in the preliminary
results in May

Enquiries:

 CMO Group PLC                                             Via Instinctif
 Dean Murray, CEO
 Jonathan Lamb, CFO

 Panmure Liberum Limited (Nominated Advisor & Broker)       +44 20 3100 2222
 Andrew Godber

 Rupert Dearden
 Satbir Kler

 Instinctif Partners (Financial PR)                        Tel: +44 20 7457 2020
 Matthew Smallwood
 Justine Warren
 Joe Quinlan

 

 

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