Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The home sector was a star performer for John Lewis in the five weeks to January 2, the department store retailer said today.
Over the Christmas trading period total sales were 15.8% up compared with last year, while like-for-like sales increased 12.7%. Fashion and beauty were 22.0% ahead, and home 19.6%. Electricals and home technology increased by 11.4%.
Compared with two years ago total sales rose 16.4% and like-for-likes 10.4%.
Managing director Andy Street said that the five-week period had seen a number of records broken.
“Sales surpassed the £100m milestone on four separate weeks (the most recent being week ending January 2 2010), and we beat our previous biggest-ever week from 2007 in early December.
“As the year progresses we expect to see a long slow recovery, with the retailers who continue to focus on giving customers what they want prospering.”
For the 13 weeks to January 2 John Lewis’ sales were up 15.0%, and like-for-likes 12.2%.
The strength of the department stores’ trading figures is echoed by the performance of sister company Waitrose, where sales increased 20.8% in the week to Boxing Day compared with the same week last year.
