Briscoes Group says despite a difficult retail environment, it's had positive sales results

The owner of the Briscoe Homeware and Rebel Sport brands, says sales reached 245.3 million dollars in the three months to January - up 0.96 percent annually.

Homeware sales went up 1.27 percent - and sporting goods rose 0.44 percent.

Managing Director, Rod Duke, believes tough trading conditions will continue, and be especially challenging in the first six months of this year.