Online retailer says the strikes hurt its profits.

Online retailer Asos.com has blamed the national and regional strikes staged by Royal Mail staff in recent weeks for a fall in UK sales.

The company reported it made a profit of £4.4 million for the six months up to September 30th, which is a nine per cent rise on the same period a year ago.

However, sales in the UK fell 23 per cent, and Nick Robertson, chief executive of the online retailer, said that disruption to the postal service had a detrimental impact on the company, along with poor weather, rising unemployment and personal debt problems.

"All the companies we speak to will do everything they can to avoid using Royal Mail. But the reality is, customers don't necessarily join those dots together," he added.

The firm was honoured in the recent Telegraph Shop Awards, coming in second in the online retailer category behind Amazon.co.uk and ahead of johnlewis.com.

Written by Tom Sands


Article Added: 18/11/2009 09:27:20