Home sales up 6.3% for John Lewis

John Lewis posted an 8.3% rise in sales last week (to October 25), with shops up 2.7% and online up 22.5%.

The department store group it enjoyed ‘brisk trading’ during the period in consumer electronics, boosted by new Apple product launches (iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3). As a result, EHT (electrical and home technology) sales were up 14.6% and there was also healthy sales growth in vision, up 7%, and large electrical, up 5%.

John Lewis buying and brand director Paula Nickolds noted that Home sales were up 6.3%, “despite being up against some charging issues from last year”. She added: “There were some eye-catching numbers in seasonal areas, suggesting gifting is already becoming top of mind for customers, with the Christmas Shop and Christmas Gift Food both performing well against last year. And despite the warm weather, customers are obviously preparing for the weather to turn, as filled bedding turned in an impressive 13% increase.”

Chichester and Newbury – both John Lewis At Home stores – were the strongest performing branches, while Stratford was top of the league of full-line department stores.

Paula Nickolds concluded: “The balmy temperatures continued to impact cold weather product sales; at times during the week the weather was almost 10 degrees warmer than the same time last year. The week ahead is up against strong comparatives from last year, so a break in the weather would be very beneficial. But with only eight trading weeks to Christmas, it remains all to play for!”