// John Lewis Partnership’s overall revenue declines 2.9% in week ending January 18
// Waitrose weekly sales down 2.9%
// John Lewis weekly sales drops 2.9%
John Lewis Partnership has recorded a decline in weekly sales as the typical lull in the third week of the new year took its toll on both of its retail brands.
For the week ending January 18, overall sales for the parent company of John Lewis and Waitrose dropped 2.9 per cent year-on-year, from £205.35 million to £199.45 million.
The year-to-date figure remains unchanged from last week, with sales slipping 0.5 per cent. There is one more week remaining in the current financial year of the company.
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Sales at John Lewis were down 2.9 per cent amid the third and final week of the department store chain’s Clearance campaign.
Home sales were particularly impacted in the week, down 9.3 per cent, as John Lewis sold through many lines to clear space for spring/summer 2020 products.
Fashion sales were down 2.8 per cent overall at the department store, again due to lines sold through in Clearance although menswear sales were up 7.3 per cent.
Electrical and home technology sales were up 1.4 per cent, boosted by positive sales of computers due to new product launches and Windows 7 reaching End of Life, which led to customers upgrading their existing devices.
At stablemate Waitrose, total sales excluding fuel were down 2.8 per cent for the week.
Warming dishes like pies and traditional ready meals saw strong sales, along with flowers and plants as shoppers brightened up their homes and gardens with winter blooms.
However, overall the grocer said ambient sales decreased 3.3 per cent, chilled and fresh food sales declined 2.5 per cent, and home and general merchandise sales dropped 7.1 per cent.
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