John Lewis sales up 8% last week
John Lewis enjoyed an 8% uplift in sales year-on-year last week, despite the wet and windy weather, as trade was boosted by a price match extravaganza and the launch of the new iPad.
In the shops, the retailer’s new format stores put in a particularly good showing with sales up 35% at Tamworth, 18.8% at Poole, and 17.6% at Swindon. The newly refurbished High Wycombe store also performed well with sales growth of 29.7%.
Online sales at johnlewis.com increased by 24.4%.
At the directorate level, electricals and home technology had the best week with a sales uplift of 25.1% on the same week last year. Sales of communication technology items rose by more than 44% driven by the launch of the new iPad. Electricals also put in a good performance with sales climbing by 15.9%.
Never Miss a Retail Update!Home sales edged up 0.6% with one the strongest performances coming from cooking and dining where sales increased by 2.2%. Lighting sales were also buoyant, rising by 8.5%.
Fashion sales were 0.7% ahead of the same week last year, boosted by a 23% increase in sales of handbags.
The retailer said initial uptake for the recently launched My John Lewis membership rewards programme had been strong.
David Barford, John Lewis director of selling for London and South, said: “The autumn trade will pick up this week – with colder weather here customers will build into the Christmas shopping mood, and as the Christmas campaigns kick off we will see uplift in footfall which we are well placed to capitalise on.”
