John Lewis & Partners sales down 3.4% last week
Sales were down 3.4% year-on-year at the John Lewis & Partners department store last week.
However, trading improved following the launch of the retailer’s Christmas advert on Thursday as customers began shopping for Excitable Edgar merchandise.
Fashion sales edged up 0.7% due to customers buying cold weather items following the week’s drop in temperatures. Sales of women’s outerwear and gloves were up by 52% and 16% respectively while cashmere sales rose by 2%.
Home sales also increased, climbing by 3.4%, after a promotion helped flooring and fitted furniture sales to rise by a respective 31% and 70%. High tog duvets and faux fur blankets were also popular with customers.
Electrical and home technology sales fell by 14.4% as the retailer annualised against new product launches. However, the cold weather boosted sales of heating products which resulted in sales in the environmental care category rising by 94% .
Meanwhile, sales in the Christmas product category climbed by 22% after sales of Christmas trees jumped by 25%.
