Department store John Lewis saw total sales leap 20.6 per cent last week thanks to strong trading in stores and a massive rise in online sales, according to figures released today.
Soft comparatives due to snow disruption this time last year saw sales in Tamworth, Trafford and Leicester stores increase 36.4 per cent, 30.5 per cent and 26.4 per cent respectively for the week to February 2nd 2013.
In the first week of the group‘s new trading year, Johnlewis.com recorded a sales surge of 48.5 per cent as online traffic continued to grow while the number of shoppers accessing the site via mobile devices also saw a boost.
Sales of electrical fared particularly well over the week following a strong performance at the start of the previous trading year, reported growth of 47.1 per cent and fashion saw an uplift as a result of the launch of the new Somerset by Temperley range.
Maggie Porteous, Head of Selling Operations for New Format at John Lewis, applauded the positive sales, commenting: “What a great start to the new trading year!
“Both shops and online were firing on all cylinders to give a superb increase of 20.6 per cent, which came on the back of strong availability.
“The momentum from last year certainly seems to be continuing into the new trading year, and with fabulous new products, improved availability in shops and online, and superb service in our shops, there is every sense that this should continue this week.”
Sister company Waitrose also began the new trading year with a sales uplift, reporting growth of 5.2 per cent driven by the start of the Six Nations Championship and the run-up to Chinese New Year.
While sales of woks reached nearly 1,000 in the week, up 600 per cent on the average, world beer sales climbed 60 per cent as rugby fans prepared to celebrate.
Following the openings of two new stores in Stirling and Clapham Common, the first full week of trading has been “fantastic”, according to Waitrose‘s Marketing Director Rupert Thomas, who said that the stores had “both exceeded expectations”.
