Fashion at John Lewis up 10 percent

Department store chain John Lewis has reported that fashion sales in the week to January 24 were up 10 percent, as its post-Christmas clearance drew to a close.

It was the womenswear that performed particular well for the fashion department, up 15.5 percent year-on-year. Other standout departments were Toys, Nursery and homeware.

Overall sales were up 3 percent, while online sales saw an increase of 15.9 percent, accounting for 34 percent of the total, supporting the continuing trend of customers browsing and shopping on their mobiles, with website traffic from mobile phones up 64 percent year-on-year. The department store also saw an increase of 27.9 percent for its click-and-collect service.

John Lewis head of retail change Mark Blundell said: “As we enter the final week of the trading year, the focus remains on delivering an exceptional customer experience and positive sales growth through a seamless omnichannel proposition.

“This is clearly evidenced through inspirational visual merchandising displays, pop-up shops and online advertising, all providing a fantastic showcase for our new spring/summer season assortments.”