Department store chain John Lewis saw its sales of electricals & home technology products saw 22.3 per cent last week, giving a significant boost to overall trading.
In the seven days to March 24th 2012, total sales for the retailers totalled £57.94 million, a 6.5 per cent increase on the same period last year.
This increase was particularly impressive as it came 12 months after the launch of Apple‘s iPad 2, one of the biggest selling consumer electricals products of the year, with TV sales encouraged by the impending digital switchover in London next week.
Unseasonably warm weather helped fashion sales to rise two per cent year-on-year but the heat wave had a negative effect on its homewares department which saw a 0.3 per cent drop in trading.
Barry Matheson, Director of Retail Services at John Lewis, said: “It was a week of unseasonably hot weather right across the country, even in Scotland where record temperatures matched those in the Mediterranean. Inevitably that brought opportunities and challenges across our assortments and shops.
“We were also up against last year‘s launch of the iPad 2 and it was, therefore, really satisfying to see us post a solid 6.5 per cent increase ahead of last year. As a result, we finished off a very successful March trading period in fine style.”
Only five of the retailers 32 stores which have been open longer than a year saw sales rise compared to the same week in 2011, but an impressive 40.6 per cent rise in online trading made up for the lack of growth elsewhere.
The retailer‘s store in Poole was by far the best performer with sales up 25.3 per cent on last year but out-of-town locations struggled over the weekend period.
Matheson added: “As we look ahead, our ability to make year-on-year comparisons becomes complicated by the fall of Easter.
“My read on things is that we are in good shape to take maximum advantage of the opportunities ahead and we have the forthcoming Spring Celebration weekend next week which I‘m sure partners John Lewis employees} will really enjoy getting behind.”
