Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
John Lewis Partnership has released its sales figures for the latest week compared with a year earlier.
Total sales were up 7.7% for the 19th week: John Lewis department stores were up 18.1%; and Waitrose sales were up 2.3%.
“A number of key themes came together last week to give a boost to our trade,” the company said. “The Jubilee effect was, of course, at the top of this list, bringing with it a different fall of half term, which meant that not only were there two bank holidays, but that many children and their families had the rest of the week off.
“That – coupled with the rain, some strong assortment promotions and the imminence of both Father’s Day and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games – gave the division a resounding increase of 18.1% increase on last year.”
The combination of bank holidays and rain was a great footfall driver for many shops. Taking advantage in particular was Swindon with a rise of 50.9%, hotly followed by Poole at 38.9%, Croydon at 37.7%, Leicester at 30.3% and Trafford at 23.8%.
Head of Selling Operations, New Format, John Lewis Maggie Porteous noted that Home achieved strong sales with an increase of 13.6%, “the impetus coming from Furniture with Outdoor Living having another excellent week on the back of a promotion”.
She added: “Our customers obviously got into the spirit of celebrating the Jubilee with some fabulous results in the Home Accessories and Gift assortments, giving an increase of 27.5%.
“With the Jubilee now behind us, our thoughts are turning to the Summer of Sport and in particular Euro 2012 and London 2012. These events, coupled with our own Clearance, which starts next week, mean that we should be able to keep up great momentum on the sales front.”
