Sales at department store John Lewis leapt 14.2 per cent ahead of last year last week as its Exeter pop-up shop enticed locals ahead of its new store opening, it has been announced today.
As the retailer continues to focus on its online offering and click & collect service, the pop-up has handled a “significant number” of click & collect orders, allowing the store to warm up shoppers ahead of the opening of its new flexible format store next year.
Online, the chain continued to prosper in the week ending September 22nd 2012, with sales via JL.com rising to 39.8 per cent as Autumnal lines fared well and brought sales increases across Women‘s Outerwear, Men‘s Knitwear and Outerwear, Uggs and gloves.
Overall, fashion sales increased 13.9 per cent on the same period last year as Alice Temperley‘s recently-launched ‘Somerset‘ collection proved increasingly popular with new lines set to arrive within weeks.
Home also saw a sales rise, up 7.1 per cent on last year as the new ‘House by John Lewis‘ range delivered seven per cent week-on-week growth and technology for the home also saw a lift.
EHT outperformed other categories with a sales boost of 24.4 per cent over the week while communication technology sales increased 55 per cent as a result of strong iPad sales.
Food mixers saw substantial sales growth, up 48 per cent on last year as TV favourite ‘The Great British Bake Off‘ drove culinary adventurers in store.
Upmarket supermarket Waitrose reported a sales jump of 8.1 per cent on the same week last year and also attributed this to the BBC show as overall bakery sales grew 5.7 per cent.
Cake coverings and decorations witnessed a sales boost of 46.1 per cent compared to last year, cooking chocolate sales grew 40.4 per cent while frozen strudels, which featured on the programme last week, saw a sales increase of 56 per cent.
As the Autumn sets in, David Jones Supply Chain Director at Waitrose explained that the buying patterns of customers are changing.
He commented: “After experiencing our best ever year for barbecue sales, up 34 per cent year on year, the change in weather this week had a big influence on sales.
“There was a definite move towards food and drink more traditionally associated with the year‘s colder months. Our Easy To Cook range saw a 67 per cent increase in sales and Meal Solutions a 11.5 per cent rise, boosted by our £10 Meal Deal.
“Waitrose.com sales were up 37.4 per cent this week and a 10 per cent increase in sales of skin care suggests shoppers are bracing themselves for the onset of a very British autumn.”
