DEPARTMENT store chain John Lewis highlighted the pressure on fashion retailers – despite reporting another double-digit rise in sales.
Overall revenues rose by 11.6% to £59.7m in the week to last Saturday, but recent wet weather dampened down fashion sales, which rose by just 2%.
Electricals and home technology led the way with a 37% jump in sales as the department continued to benefit from the digital television switchover.
There was also a Diamond Jubilee theme to the week’s trading as bunting, Union Jack bowler hats and tea towels helped lift home sales by nearly 5%.
Retail operations director Simon Russell said it had been another solid week for the chain, which has posted double-digit sales growth every week since the end of March.
He said: “The first signs of spring appearing, combined with the run-up to half-term and the extended bank holiday weekend, should give us a much needed spike in demand for summer fashion and outdoor assortments.”
Customers also began investing in their houses again with higher sales of big-ticket textiles and furniture.
Online sales rose by 37.5% in the week and shops at Cheadle, Reading and Norwich performed ahead of the rest of the group.
At supermarket chain Waitrose, which is also part of the John Lewis Partnership, weekly sales were up by 6.6% on last year.
Retail director Rob Collins said the extension of the chain’s price match scheme, which offers branded grocery products at the same price as Tesco, was a factor in the improved performance.
Last week’s weather – in stark contrast to this week’s sizzling temperatures – also encouraged demand for canned soup, canned vegetables and biscuits, which all showing double-digit growth.
Customers snapped up bargains in Waitrose’s three-for-£10 pre-packed meat deal, with beef up 18% and lamb sales up by more than 9%. Sales of salmon and prawns, which were also on offer, were also well ahead.
Convenient accompaniments saw a rise in demand with sales of prepared fruit and vegetables growing by 32% and 25% respectively.
Waitrose.com continued to attract a growing number of customers wanting to shop from the comfort of their own home – with sales up by more than 37% on last year.
