John Lewis has a quiet week
John Lewis said sales edged up slightly by 0.1% for the week ending 24 September. The retailer said the week had been much quieter in terms of footfall compared to the same week last year due to the milder weather.
Fashion had a slower week than last year with sales down 0.7%. Beauty was up 5% and handbags performed particularly well with a rise of 17%.
Home sales were down by 1.7% with big ticket items selling slowly but linens saw an increase of 7%. Sales of seasonal gifts rose 18% which John Lewis said bodes well for the build-up to Christmas.
Electricals and Home Technology was the strongest area for trade during the week with sales up by 4.1%. Communications technology performed particularly strongly with sales up by up 17%.
Online sales were up 21% during the week, the smallest increase of September. Among the branches, Poole topped the table with sales up 8% followed by Sheffield at 3%.
The retailer’s newest store at Westfield Stratford City had a good first week with strong weekend trade. John Lewis said the new store was comfortably ahead of the majority of branches and excelling on Electricals and Home Technology and menswear. The London 2012 shop had also performed well.
