Fashion sales slip 5.4 percent at John Lewis

Department store chain John Lewis reported a 5.4 percent

drop in fashion sales in the week to August 3, as the retailer prepares for the transition into the new autumn/winter stock.

However, the retailer did report that overall sales were up 2.5 percent week-on-week and 4.4 percent ahead of last year.

John Lewis’ online director Mark Lewis said: “Fashion trade is in transition as we close out the end of season lines and prepare for the new season of autumn/winter both in shops and online.”

The retailer did also state in its weekly report that it had received a 24 percent increase in online sales, and that the overall number of visits to johnlewis.com rose 16 percent year-on-year with traffic from handheld mobile devices growing at over 70 percent.

In addition, John Lewis also noted that its Click & Collect offering was up by more than 40 percent on last year, as customers continued to opt for convenient ways to shop.

Commenting on the overall results, Lewis added: “This time last year, we were all engrossed in the Olympics, enjoying Team GB's successes and of course playing our own part in the story as Official Department Store Provider. Without the spectacle of the Games this year, and an easing of the hot weather, our customers found time to shop with us in good numbers in the week.

“Compared to last year, the trade in many of our more northern shops was particularly encouraging with a number showing strong double-digit growth, while the comparables of London 2012-related categories gave a number of our more southern shops harder numbers to beat. Overall though shops had a strong week especially given the extreme temperatures enjoyed by many on Thursday.”