Department store John Lewis saw sales last week rise 8.8 per cent on last year, reporting “pleasing” results across its stores and online, it has been announced today.
Promotional activity which saw the retailer match a competitor‘s pricing helped boost footfall while all categories saw sales grow in the week to May 18th 2013.
Price-matching activity across the Fashion directorate saw total sales jump 13.9 per cent, driven by strong trade across Beauty and Women‘s Accessories while Women‘s Shoes and Premium Beauty also proved popular.
Electricals and Home Technology sales increased 11.7 per cent compared with the same period last year as both large and small electricals “continued their excellent form”, the retailer noted.
Home continued to struggle against tough comparatives last year due to the Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Games, creeping up 1.7 per cent as sales of Outdoor Living products remained strong.
While the strongest performing shops were Tamworth, Glasgow and Leicester, which saw sales rise 16.5 per cent, 15.1 per cent and 11.5 per cent respectively, online sales leapt 22.9 per cent.
Looking ahead, John Lewis‘ Director of Selling, North and New Format said: “The signs are looking strong for this week.
“We have some fabulous assortments which are being strongly promoted in our shops, and our customers will be wanting to get ready for the Bank Holiday, and for some the half term break.”
Sister retailer Waitrose also saw “very strong growth” across its online operations, up 42.4 per cent on the same week in 2012 as annual events buoyed overall sales.
During the week, total sales increased 9.4 per cent as Eurovision and the final day of the Premier League season helped deliver “another excellent performance”, the grocer said.
European-inspired dishes proved popular thanks to the contest as sales of Danish pastries, meatballs and chicken kievs climbed 17.5 per cent, 31 per cent and 45 per cent respectively.
Speciality beer sales rose 35 per cent and world beer by 21 per cent and football fans favoured simple meals such as frozen pizza and products from the supermarket‘s Food To Go range, which saw sales rise 13 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, flower sales surged during the week as anticipation around the start of Chelsea Flower Show led to a 21 per cent rise and a horticulture sales rise of 29 per cent.
As expansion continued, Waitrose opened its eighteenth Welcome Break motorway services unit in Michaelwood as well as a new branch in Oakgrove, Milton Keynes, which had an “excellent start” as sales rose 13 per cent above target in its first full week of trade.
