Norfolk’s largest independent furniture and furnishings retailer, Aldiss, has reported record sales at both intake and delivered sales levels for the year ending 30th September 2023.

Strong demand pushed (VAT inclusive) Intake sales over the £25m milestone for the first time ever to £25.4m.

The unwind of a very healthy order book and the continuing order intake brought delivered sales to another record at £21.4m (VAT exclusive). Despite this unwind the closing order book of £3.1m remained robust.

Gross margin percentage was maintained at 43%. Profit before tax at £687,187, was tempered by additional expenditure taken in the year on new low energy lighting schemes throughout the estate and remedial works to the ceiling and roof void at the Company’s Fakenham store.

This strong performance helped lift the balance sheet value to £3.96m.

Managing Director Darryl Simpson commented: “To deliver record years at both intake and delivered sales is an achievement the team here can be proud of. This level of business has enabled us to invest in our buildings, bring solar power to our two retail stores and improve our energy efficiency by uprating lighting, insulation and ceiling schemes. These investments are designed to offset operating costs in the years to come and support future performance.”

In addition to these advances in trading, W J Aldiss paid down their outstanding commercial loan in the financial year and began an investment programme to improve its delivery and distribution premises in Fakenham, due for completion in the next 18 months.