Sales at Britain‘s biggest department store John Lewis rose 6.5 per cent last week in a “solid” week of trading.
Electricals saw y-o-y growth despite the dip in footfall due to changes in the fall of Easter, while fashion sales were strong with Mothers Day and in-store events driving a “great performance” in beauty.
An extended three year guarantee on Apple computers also helped sales growth.
Online director Mark Lewis commented: “Online sales growth continued with sales 24.3 per cent ahead of last year. Traffic to our sites and conversion both showed positive growth on the year, and it was pleasing to see strong growth coming from tablet and smartphone users, as our customers continue to evolve the ways they shop with us.”
There was double digit growth in its High Wycombe and Chester branches but sales fell by 16.9 per cent in its Exeter store and 10.2 per cent in Tunbridge Wells. The company said click and collect accounted for a third of all online sales while online sales in shops managed by partners grew 35 per cent y-o-y.
Online spending in UK department stores rose 22 per cent for the year according to official figures released yesterday.
