John Lewis sales down 4.7% last week
Department store chain John Lewis saw its sales drop by 4.7% year-on-year last week as the unseasonably warm weather continued.
Home was the strongest performing category with sales up 2.1%. The earlier opening of the retailer’s Christmas Shop in John Lewis Oxford Street helped overall sales for Christmas products increase by 28% compared to last year. Furniture also had a good week with sales rising by 9.4% as customers continued to shop the new Autumn/Winter ranges.
Fashion sales were impacted by fewer departments being in a price match promotion compared to the same week last year as well as by the warm weather. Sales finished the week 9.1% down.
Meanwhile, sales in electricals and home technology declined by 5.5% despite last week’s Oculus Rift launch being well received by customers.
Looking ahead to this week, John Lewis will be opening a new store in Chelmsford on Thursday which will be its first ever shop in Essex.
