John Lewis reports strong bank holiday trade
John Lewis benefited from strong bank holiday trade last week as sales closed 16.6% higher than the same week last year.
The retailer said varying weather across the UK influenced trade with sun in the south dampening sales and rain in the north driving additional footfall.
In the home directorate sales rose 11.9% on last year with indoor furniture sales up 17% and lighting sales rising by 36.6%. John Lewis said its presence at the Grand Designs exhibition had secured several hundred ‘warm leads’ for its fitted kitchens, many of which will convert into sales.
Electricals and home technology sales were up 39% driven by sales of iPads and televisions. The fashion directorate delivered growth of 6.9% helped by strong sales of men’s branded fashion which rose by 18%.
Never Miss a Retail Update!The retailer said online sales at johnlewis.com increased by 50.4% in the week and accounted for a quarter of all trade. PACT sales continued to grow, up 50% year-on-year.
The best performing store was Croydon with sales up 55.3% in the week, followed by Poole and Tunbridge Wells where sales increased by 31.5% and 27.2% respectively.
Dino Rocos, operations director, John Lewis said: “The highlight of the week was the celebrity-attended launch of the new Beauty Hall in Oxford Street. Feedback, echoed in social media, has been hugely positive with more than 700 comments posted. Trade, since the launch, has seen the Oxford Street beauty department trading 13% ahead of like-for-like branches. Well done to all those involved, your hard work has shown fantastic results.”
