John Lewis weekly store sales up 1.2%
Sales growth at John Lewis slowed down last week as the warm weather deterred customers from visiting its stores. Total sales in the week to 30 July rose by a modest 1.2%.
However, the department store chain said it was pleased with the half year’s sales which finished 2.6% ahead of the first half in 2010. John Lewis managing director Andy Street commented: “We believe we have outperformed competitors across Electrical, Home, and Fashion, and most definitely in online.”
Fashion sales increased by 2.9% during the week while Electricals and Home Technology rose 3.2%. Home sales fell by 1.2%. For the first half the same departments achieved increases of 4.2%, 3.8% and 0.6% respectively.
Street said: ”Although Home recorded a slender advance at 0.6%, it was perhaps the star turn of the season. Its increase has been particularly hard won in a flat housing market.”
Online sales were up 27.4% for the half while sales for the week were up 33.6%.
Street said: “So we go into the all-important second half in very good shape. More new products have arrived earlier than last year, the marketing ideas are fresh, and our supply chain is in robust form ahead of its peak. What’s more, our June and July results have been relatively strong, and should provide just the momentum and confidence we need to outperform our competitors when it matters most. That’s the mission for the coming months.”
