John Lewis sales up 16.5%
John Lewis said the strong trading seen since Easter continued last week with a 16.5% uplift in sales.
Sales at the employee-owned retailer’s department stores rose 8% on the same week last year while online sales rose 56.5%. Nineteen branches bettered last year led by Croydon, High Wycombe, Southampton with rises of 29.9%, 16.3% and 14.7% respectively.
John Lewis’s new store in Newbury got off to a strong start at 6% with sales partly driven by an increased breadth of assortment in areas such as premium beauty. The retailer said its refurbished branches Norwich, Reading and Cheadle comfortably improved on last year.
Of the buying directorates, Electricals and Home Technology led the way with sales up 49.7% on last year. This was driven by strong sales of iPads and vision products.
Never Miss a Retail Update!Home also performed well with a 9.1% increase in sales with cooking, dining, textiles and carpets the best performers.
The cooler weather in the week made trade in the fashion directorate more challenging resulting in a more modest 1.1% increase on the same week last year.
Looking to the week ahead director, Selling Operations, Region B, John Lewis, said: “With the projected weather forecast seemingly in our favour and ever increasing interest in both London 2012 and ‘Celebration of Britain’ merchandise we should be well placed to capitalise and produce another strong week of trade.”
