John Lewis Partnership’s weekly sales have steadied in the second-last full week of the crucial Christmas period, recovering from a decline in the weeks immediately after Black Friday.
For the week ending December 15, the parent company of Waitrose and John Lewis saw weekly sales come in at £335.59 million, which is almost the same as the £335.68 million during the same week last year. and just under the £336.95 million recorded the year before that.
When looking at the 46 weeks of the fiscal year so far, total sales for the partnership dipped 0.7 per cent year-on-year, but it’s performing better than the same 46-week period the year prior.
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The department store said its total weekly growth was due to customers shopping for gifts and preparing their homes for Christmas, as well as price matching competitor promotions which launched at the end of the week.
Fashion sales were up 9.3 per cent, boosted by womenswear and menswear sales growing 8.5 per cent and 7.2 per cent respectively.
Beauty, wellbeing and leisure sales were also up 15.7 per cent last week.
Home sales were down 1.7 per cent overall, although John Lewis’ Christmas Shop had a good week with sales up 1.1 per cent on last year, thanks to strong sales in Christmas trees, lighting and gift food.
Electrical and home technology sales were down 4.3 per cent, partly due to annualising competitor promotions which were not repeated this year.
Over at stablemate Waitrose, total sales excluding fuel were down 1.9 per cent compared to the same week last year due to a planned decision to reduce promotional activity.
Customers began to stock up for the big day, with sales of panettone up by 12 per cent and mince pies up by nine per cent.
Shoppers were also busy getting their homes ready, with Christmas tree sales up by 16 per cent, Christmas flowers up by 11 per cent and orchids surging 143 per cent.
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