Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Sales at department store group John Lewis for last week (to September 20) finished 2% ahead of last year, with warm weather across the country dominating the pattern of trade.
With temperatures up to 25deg C, customers “were not in the mood just yet for buying cold weather products, and this was reflected across all assortments,” according to the director of retail services Barry Matheson.
But he added: “Home continued its fine run with big-ticket product leading the way, and the results from beds (up 20%), fitted furniture (up 59%) and upholstery (up 57%), were particularly eye-catching.
“Our ‘at home’ format branches dominate the top of the table [of sales figures for branches] and congratulations to Ipswich who led the way, while High Wycombe continues to be front of the pack among the full-line shops. In online, the level of trade was softer than of late. However, sales still grew 13% ahead of last year.”
He concluded: “This week’s price matching activity in response to competitors’ promotional events should give our customers even more reason to shop with us in the coming week.”
