Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Sales increased 4.8% last week (to January 31) for John Lewis, rooted in online and a combination of the Fashion and Home directorates.
The department store group’s managing director Andy Street said the performance “rounded off another strong year for sales, which have been nicely ahead of the market, and reflects the role that our shops and online are playing supporting one another.”
He added that Home “rounded off its best year for many, with a cracking week in furniture. Beds has been the star turn all year. Gifts and textiles have also stood out. This also proved the best week for EHT [electricals & home technology] for some time, with the electrical buyerships continuing to power forward.”
Among the shops, the ‘At Home’ branches once led the way. Chester took up the baton in week 53, but for the year Newbury, Chichester, Poole and Tamworth all cleared 10%. He added that the highlights have, however, “been the impressive growth at High Wycombe after the refurbishment, and the new energy at both Stratford and Norwich”.
He concluded: “I should credit the merchandising teams who have ensured we end the year with the cleanest stocks for some time. This leaves us well placed to support the new season.”
