John Lewis reports downbeat Christmas
Fashion sales fall at department store operator
January 3 2003
Department store group John Lewis has described sales in the last full week before Christmas as “frankly disappointing”.
The company said that overall, its Christmas performance was only saved by a last-minute rush on the Sunday and Monday before Christmas and a very strong start to the winter sale.
Like-for-like sales growth was just 0.3 per cent in the week to December 21, increasing to 7.9 per cent in the seven days to December 28, including record sales on December 27, the first day of the sale.
The best performing departments were electronics, audio, television and perfumery. However, department store managing director described fashion sales in the week ending December 21 as “very difficult,” with sales well below last year’s levels.
