Online and mail-order group Findel, owner of retail brands Studio and Ace, maintained sales momentum in the summer with another double-digit bump in demand.

The value retailer, which carries a comprehensive programme of inexpensive furniture on its websites and in its catalogues, said sales advanced 11 percent for Express Gifts in the 16 weeks to July 20.

Express Gifts is the Findel division housing its Studio and Ace retail brands.

Its performance builds on even higher growth in the earlier period, with Express Gifts having made a 17 percent gain in household goods sales to £110.3 million in the year to end March.

Findel said the latest increase was driven by customer recruitment and the transition of its customer base from paper product channels to online. It said online ordering levels advanced from 68 percent to 70 percent of sales on an annualised basis.