Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
John Lewis sales rose by 20.7% last week (to July 5). Shops were up 16% with High Wycombe and Leicester leading the full-line department stores, while Newbury, Tamworth and Croydon were best for the ‘at home’ shops.
John Lewis director of retail operations development Simon Russell said: “Online had a cracking week with 34% growth, helped by strong traffic and conversion. Click & Collect once again showed excellent growth, with both John Lewis and Waitrose shops driving valuable footfall. The number of online orders placed in shops was more than 50% ahead of last year.” He added: “Clearance continues to perform well as we head towards the mid-point.”
Home enjoyed a “superb week’s trade”, with furniture being the star of the show, recording an all-time record week for the summer season. Beds in particular drove this performance. In electricals, white goods and small kitchen appliances led the way.
He concluded: “The week ahead provides some great trading opportunities. With final reductions in Clearance, the introduction of new lines in branches, and the start of the summer holidays in some parts of the country, there is all to play for in the remaining weeks of the half-year trading calendar.”
