Colder weather last week boosted sales at department store John Lewis a significant 26.5 per cent, it has been announced today.
Customers who revelled in the Indian summer this time last year were driven to shop in store and online in the week to September 29th 2012 as sales at JL.com rose 48.4 per cent on the same period last year.
Last Saturday saw “November levels of trade” according to the retailer as Christmas buying began earlier than usual and its Croydon and Poole branches outperformed other stores with sales increases of 41.5 per cent and 37.4 per cent respectively over the week.
Fashion reported strong sales across all buying groups with childrenswear sales jumping 77 per cent thanks to parents seeking winter warmers for youngsters.
Womenswear saw a 49 per cent rise over the week, driven by a 165 per cent increase in sales of women‘s boots while Alice Temperley‘s ‘Somerset‘ collection continues to perform solidly.
Warm bed linen was also on consumers‘ shopping list, up 51 per cent while lighting sales lifted 39 per cent as dark nights drew in and Maggie Porteus, Head of Selling Operations, New Format at John Lewis, explained that the Winter season begins now at the retailer.
She commented. “This week sees the launch of the Christmas department in all of our shops and that is the signal to our customers to start their Christmas purchasing in earnest!”
Meanwhile, sales at upmarket grocer Waitrose increased 6.9 per cent last week as ‘Organic September‘ came to an encouraging end.
Driven by promotions across its organic Duchy Originals range, sales of English muffins, butter sultana scones and lamb half legs soared 500 per cent, 700 per cent and 292 per cent respectively as customers favoured British favourites as Autumn set in.
