Dick Smith Grows 9%
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Sales at the Woolworths group’s Australian and NZ consumer electronics stores – including the Dick Smith chain – grew 9 percent to $839 million in the six months to December 31, the group said yesterday.

Sales at the Woolworths group’s Australian and NZ consumer electronics stores – including the Dick Smith chain – grew 9 percent to $839 million in the six months to December 31, the group said yesterday.

Growth in the second quarter was 11.6 per cent compared with just 6.1pc in the first quarter – possibly reflecting extra Christmas sales spurred by the Rudd Government’s stimulus program.

A Woolworths statement to the ASX noted that the consumer electronics sales spurt had been delivered at a lower margin “as we transition out of certain categories and experience both changes in sales mix and a highly competitive market.”

Woollies opened 29 new DSE stores and three Powerhouse stores during the six months, talking the total to 433 stores.

A joint venture with Tata in India now has 26 consumer electronics stores operating under the Croma brand, producing sales of A$90 million for the half year.