Black Friday bonanza sets Dixons record

CURRYS and PC World owner Dixons Carphone took a record five orders a second on Black Friday as Britain’s largest electricals and mobile phone chain beat forecasts with a bumper first-half.

the retail giant bucked a trend that saw shoppers buying more items online, saying around 80pc of customers came into its stores.

Chief executive Sebastian James said it had been the biggest trading day in the firm’s history, with the number of deals up by a third. televisions were strong sellers.

James used the update to shake up the board, ditching deputy chairman Roger taylor who was with the firm for 17 years, and John Gildersleeve, who filled nonexecutive roles for 15 years.

they have been replaced by former Bt chief executive Lord Livingston, who becomes deputy chairman, and ex-Asda chief executive tony DeNunzio, as senior independent director.

the half-year figures showed pre-tax profit rose £78m for the 26 weeks to October 31, up from £71m on sales of £4.3bn. that did not include Black Friday. On an underlying basis profit was £121m, ahead of the £111m forecast.

Dixons Carphone was formed through a merger last year of Dixons Retail and Carphone Ware- house. Shares are up 10pc over the past year.

James said group sales were driven by washing machines and other white goods.

He said: ‘ We improved our ranges, priced items competitively and shoppers liked the free nextday delivery. Our Dyson zone and TV lounges were also well received, along with Nespresso shops.’

Sales of tablet computers and laptops bombed, with customers not updating. the firm has 404 stores and aims to shrink to 320.

James said all the difficult decisions from the merger have been made: ‘We have now reverted to normal married life and no longer think of ourselves as separate’.