Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The first week of the Easter break, good weather, and the opening of a new shop in York combined to deliver strong trading results for John Lewis last week.
The department store group enjoyed increases in all areas, delivering a 13% gain in sales in the week to April 12. All directorates saw double-digit growth on the year, with EHT((Electricals & Home Technology) leading, up 14.9%. Home, up 13.2%, saw a good build in trade towards Easter, with gift food and seasonal up 200%, reflective of the different fall of the Easter weekend compared to last year. John Lewis also saw a 60% gain in Outdoor Living.
John Lewis buying and brand director Paula Nickolds said: “Our shops benefited from school holiday trade with Newbury, Tamworth and High Wycombe taking the top spots. We also opened our stunning new York shop, which showcases our latest thinking across the categories. Customer reaction was fantastic and sales were well ahead of expectations. Online continued its strong run, up 35.8% versus last year, underpinned by very solid traffic and conversion. There were particularly pleasing results in home accessories and gifts up 38% and electricals, up 38%.”
She continued: “Our Easter Weekend event will give real focus to our offer and with our operations and stocks in good shape, we are well placed to maximise trade during this important period.”
