John Lewis & Partners sales up 0.5% last week
The John Lewis & Partners department store chain saw its total sales edge up 0.5% year-on-year last week despite the warm weather in some areas impacting sales.
Electrical and home technology sales increased by 10.8% as trade in the category was boosted by demand for the new Apple iPhone XS and Apple Watch Series 4.
Fashion sales were down 6.8% in the week but in the corresponding week last year the retailer price matched a competitor’s promotion on beauty products which was not repeated last week. Meanwhile, sales of the retailer’s own brand womenswear ranges were strong with an uplift of 9.8%.
Home sales fell by 3.4% although sales of gift, cook and dine products were up 1.6% on last year with trade driven by the launch of the retailer’s Christmas Shop. John Lewis said it had seen “very strong” demand for its exclusive personalised Quality Street tins of chocolates in the period.
