John Lewis sales up 7.2% last week
John Lewis enjoyed a 7.2% increase in sales year-on-year last week as performance was driven by a combination of clearance sale markdowns and full price trade.
Fashion sales rose 7.4% boosted by healthy uplifts in sales of handbags and jewellery. In addition, own brand assortments across menswear and womenswear delivered strong sales on clearance lines with a total year-on-year gain of 12.1%.
Electricals and home technology sales grew 11.7% helped by a 26.6% increase in sales of large electrical items. Audio and imaging sales were also buoyant, rising 25.8% on last year. Across electrical, sales on clearance lines were up 48% on last year.
The home directorate delivered an increase of 3.6%, driven by a 17.6% rise in sales of furniture.
Never Miss a Retail Update!Online sales at johnlewis.com rose by 20.7% with Click & Collect orders up 46% year-on-year.
Across the shops, five branches delivered double-digit increases in the first days of the clearance sale. Stratford topped the table with an 18% rise while Norwich, Tamworth, Leicester and Milton Keynes followed closely behind.
Jon Williams, director of merchandising operations at John Lewis, said: “With John Lewis just being named Best Retailer at the 2013 Which? Awards we are being recognised for being a ‘true retail champion in 2013’. It is early days for Clearance, but with that behind us, good availability and further markdowns at the end of the week we have lots to play for.”
