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John Lewis Christmas Eve sales end year with a boost | John Lewis Christmas Eve sales end year with a boost |
(35 minutes later) | |
Retail chain John Lewis Partnership saw an 11% rise in sales in the last week of 2018 compared with a year earlier. | Retail chain John Lewis Partnership saw an 11% rise in sales in the last week of 2018 compared with a year earlier. |
The partnership includes both John Lewis department stores and Waitrose supermarkets. | The partnership includes both John Lewis department stores and Waitrose supermarkets. |
John Lewis reported very strong sales on Christmas Eve itself - which was included in the last week of trading - as customers bought last-minute gifts. | John Lewis reported very strong sales on Christmas Eve itself - which was included in the last week of trading - as customers bought last-minute gifts. |
Waitrose sales provided most of the year-end boost, rising 19.2% on the same week a year ago. | Waitrose sales provided most of the year-end boost, rising 19.2% on the same week a year ago. |
Gift food sales at John Lewis doubled, while beauty and well-being products saw a 25% increase. | Gift food sales at John Lewis doubled, while beauty and well-being products saw a 25% increase. |
However, in the previous week, ending on 22 December, sales across the partnership fell 4.8%. Its financial year so far has seen sales remain flat in both Waitrose and John Lewis. | However, in the previous week, ending on 22 December, sales across the partnership fell 4.8%. Its financial year so far has seen sales remain flat in both Waitrose and John Lewis. |
A Waitrose spokesperson said: "As always at this time of year, our sales figures are heavily distorted by the fall of Christmas and New Year. Both these weekly performances were in line with expectations." | A Waitrose spokesperson said: "As always at this time of year, our sales figures are heavily distorted by the fall of Christmas and New Year. Both these weekly performances were in line with expectations." |
The strong figures at Waitrose are likely to have been distorted by Christmas falling on a different week to last year, therefore boosting 2018 sales. | |
Sales the prior week were down 11.7 %. | |
Nicholas Carroll, senior retail analyst at research group Mintel, said: "There has obviously been a big distortion by the way the last week has included Christmas Eve, and we will get a better picture in few days time when we get sales for the whole of the six week Christmas trading period. | |
"Even so at a time when retailing is meant to be on its knees, the John Lewis figures that we can see look fairly good and they imply an increase in sales of about 4% over the two week period." | |
The final week also saw the start of some clearance sales. John Lewis said that electrical and home technology sales rose 3.1%, with Apple products performing particularly well and communication technology products also up. | The final week also saw the start of some clearance sales. John Lewis said that electrical and home technology sales rose 3.1%, with Apple products performing particularly well and communication technology products also up. |
Unsurprisingly, in the middle of the holiday week, sales of Waitrose's fresh and frozen food did well, rising 22% on the same period last year. | Unsurprisingly, in the middle of the holiday week, sales of Waitrose's fresh and frozen food did well, rising 22% on the same period last year. |