John Lewis sales dropped by 6.8% last week
Sales at the John Lewis & Partners department store were down 6.8% year-on-year last week as trading continued to be affected by mild autumn weather.
However, there was significant increase in sales towards the end of the week following the launch of the retailer’s Christmas advert featuring Elton John.
The retailer also benefited from a price matching exercise on Friday and Saturday against other retailers’ Black Friday deals.
Fashion sales edged down 0.9% in the week due to the mild weather although trading benefited from a combination of price matching and the retailer’s own beauty offers in the final two days of the week.
Meanwhile, home sales dropped by 14.7% after sales were impacted by a reduction in competitor offers which led John Lewis to reduce its price matching activity. In addition, the weather meant the retailer sold fewer warm bedding products such as high tog duvets. However, future orders for curtains and blinds and furniture and flooring rose by 11% and 4.1% respectively.
Electrical and home technology sales were also down in the week, falling by 6.3%. Following the launch of the John Lewis Christmas advert, pianos were the most searched for item on the retailer’s website and it sold 100 pianos and keyboards in three days.
