Furniture retailer Nick Scali’s first half profit has jumped 41 per cent to $14.1 million, compared with the corresponding period, as the company releases its HY16 results.

Total sales in the six months, which ended December 31, increased by 32 per cent to $102.5 million. This was partly attributed to its strong sales for the period and the recent opening of two new stores in Casula and in Western Australia at Midland.

Managing director Anthony Scali said their stores in Western Australian continue to trade well and have “contributed favourably to the Group results.”

During the 2015 calendar year, the company opened nine stores, which, according to Scali, “performed in line with expectation and positively influenced the overall result for the half.”

Nick Scali’s strong sales growth continued into January, which is usually its biggest trading month, and saw a 24-per cent increase in total sales orders with a 3.3 per cent growth in comparative sales orders from the previous period. The company is expecting continued sales growth for the second half of the 2016 financial year.

The company forecasts a full-year profit in between $22 to $24 million. The interim dividend is 9.0 cents per share fully franked, up from 7.0 cents for the prior corresponding period.

The family-controlled retailer will open four to six new stores in the next 12 months.

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