Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
John Lewis sales for last week (to Saturday April 8) were up 3.5% year-on-year at £82 million. S
The department store group’s operations director Dino Rocos said sales were influenced by the warmer weather, as well as the ongoing impact of Easter falling at a different time.
In Home, sales were down -2.9% but outdoor living was up “an incredible” 92.3%.
Like-for-like sales of Easter-related gift food were 9.1% on the comparative week from last year, with the Prestat Gin & Tonic Easter Egg and Chocolate Hen on Edible Grass proving best sellers.
EHT (Electricals & Home Technology) sales were up 6.9%. New product launches drove this performance, with the launch of the new Google Home sparking particular interest. Tablets and computing was up 13.3%, and Audio and Connected Home was up 6.7%.
The weather proved a boost for Fashion, with sales up 7.5%. Warm weather clothing was up significantly, with womenswear up 14.2% and menswear up 8%. Fashion accessories were up 18.2%, driven by sunglasses sales.
John Lewis noted that its new AND/OR denim range performed well on the back of a personalisation denim workshop, which is running at its flagship Oxford Street shop in London until April 18.
