Hobbycraft has revealed robust Christmas trading figures, buoyed by shoppers choosing more environmentally-friendly options for Christmas accessories.
The arts and crafts retailer’s overall like-for-like sales rose by 5.3% during the five weeks to 24 December. In-store sales climbed by 3%, whilst online sales surged 19.5%.
Hobbycraft said it saw significant growth in the number of customers choosing to use more recyclable products in the gift wrap, gift tags and DIY crackers categories. Sales of recyclable brown gift tags increased by 21% in the period.
Sales also benefitted from the retailer hosting workshops and demonstrations during the festive period across its 99 stores that showed customers how to tackle projects such as fillable baubles and handmade crackers.
Dominic Jordan, chief executive of Hobbycraft, said: “This is a good performance. This Christmas we’ve seen so many customers looking not only to personalise their gifts, but also to consider presentation and recyclability of materials. We’ve seen some fantastic examples of gift wrapping and tags which can be both beautiful and better for the environment.”
