John Lewis sales up 4.4% last week as hot weather eases
Sales at John Lewis rose by 4.4% year-on-year last week as an easing of the hot weather encouraged customers to shop.
In the week ending 3 August 2013, online sales at johnlewis.com increased by 24% with electrical and home technology sales particularly buoyant. The retailer said the overall number of visits to its website rose by 16% compared to the same week last year with traffic from handheld mobile devices growing at over 70%.
Click & collect sales were also up, rising by over 40% on the same week last year, with a strong uptake of collection from Waitrose supermarkets.
Within the directorates, Home sales edged up 1.1% despite strong comparatives from last year’s Olympic sales in home accessories and gifts. Furniture sales rose by 9% while cooking and dining products delivered a 4% increase.
Never Miss a Retail Update!Fashion sales dropped by 5.4% as the retailer closed out its end of season lines and prepared for the Autumn/Winter season both in the shops and online. Toys, nursery and haberdashery bucked the trend with a 9.5% increase year-on-year.
Electricals and home technology sales soared by 19.9% year-on-year driven by strong sales of small electrical and audio imaging products. The warm weather also boosted sales of fans and juicers.
Mark Lewis, online director at John Lewis said: “This time last year, we were all engrossed in the Olympics, enjoying Team GB’s successes and of course playing our own part in the story as Official Department Store Provider. Without the spectacle of the Games this year, and an easing of the hot weather, our customers found time to shop with us in good numbers in the week.”
