Sales in December increased by 2 per cent to 1,234 MSEK (1,204). Organic sales were unchanged compared to the previous year. Online sales decreased by 15 per cent to 116 MSEK (136) Compared to the same month last year the store network decreased by 5 stores. At the end of the period, the total number of stores was 225 (230).
| Distribution of sales | Month | Accumulated | ||||
| December | Change | May-December | Change | |||
| MSEK | 2022/23 | SEK | Organic | 2022/23 | SEK | Organic |
| Sweden | 530 | 1% | 1% | 2,951 | 2% | 2% |
| Norway | 560 | 5% | 1% | 2,893 | 5% | 1% |
| Finland | 143 | 4% | -3% | 757 | 6% | 0% |
| Outside the Nordics | 0 | - | - | 13 | - | - |
| Total | 1,234 | 2% | 0% | 6,613 | 3% | 1% |
| Of which online | 116 | -15% | -17% | 761 | 12% | 10% |
Total sales for the period May–December 2022 increased by 3 per cent to 6,613 MSEK (6,398). Organic sales increased by 1 per cent compared to the previous year. Online sales for the period increased by 12 per cent to 761 MSEK (678).
Kristofer Tonström, CEO and President: After a strong November, we received further confirmation during December that customers perceive Clas Ohlson as a relevant Christmas destination. Customer traffic to our stores increased, the Christmas assortment sold well and demand for energy-saving products remained strong. In a challenging market climate, total sales increased by two per cent compared to the previous year, and organic sales were unchanged. The outcome online for December should be seen in the light of the strong development in November, where more efficient e-commerce logistics enabled for more or less all Black Friday sales to be delivered to customer, and reported, in November. We continue to be affected by consumers' more need-based consumption patterns in combination with them waiting for campaigns and sales, as well as by high purchasing prices, transportation costs and a weak Swedish krona. Our work with cost-saving measures is progressing according to plan.
For further information, please contact:
Niklas Carlsson, Group Head of Communications, +46 247 444 29, niklas.carlsson@clasohlson.se
This is information that Clas Ohlson AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 7:00 a.m. CET on
9 January 2023.