John Lewis sees 100 million pounds weekly sales in festive season

John Lewis has posted a jump in sales to deliver its first 100 million pounds week of the festive season, the department store group revealed this week.

Sales in the week ending 14 November increased by 1.5 percent on last year and by 15.8 percent on the previous week, boosted by its Man on the Moon Christmas advertising campaign.

Paula Nickolds, commercial director, said: “The countdown to Christmas has begun. Customers are now buying gifts and products to prepare their home for the season ahead.”

Home sales increased by 2.8 percent, as shoppers revamped their homes and snapped up carpets and curtains – up 14.9 and 10.2 percent respectively.

Fashion sales were up by just 0.8 percent, hurt by the mild winter weather and echoing trends reported in industry figures, with retail sales up by 0.9 percent in October.