John Lewis’s sales spiked last week as the influx of colder weather boosted the performance of its clothing ranges.

John Lewis sales spiked last week as the influx of colder weather boosted performance of its clothing ranges.

John Lewis Birmingham

Colder weather raised the performance of John Lewis’s clothing ranges

The department store chain’s revenues jumped 9.7% to £105.9m during the week ending November 5, with fashion sales climbing 8.6% year-on-year.

Women’s shoes were the standout performer in the category, as winter boots drove sales up 19% compared with the same week last year.

The colder weather also boosted sales of women’s fashion accessories such as gloves and scarves, while beauty products registered a 12.4% uplift.

John Lewis, which named Paula Nickolds as its new boss last month to succeed Andy Street, hailed a “storming” week for electricals and home technology.

The category posted a 17.6% rise in sales, driven by Apple Macbooks and Sonos speakers.

Customers also started preparing their homes for the festive season, as sales of homewares increased 3.7%.

Within that category, John Lewis said furniture sales were up 10%, while textiles and carpets registered an 8.4% incline.

Waitrose

Sister retailer Waitrose also benefited from the colder weather to post an increase in weekly sales.

The upmarket grocer’s revenues edged up 0.6% to £135.3m, but Waitrose said sales were driven “in part” by its offer of a 25% discount for customers purchasing six or more bottles of wine and Champagne. Sales within the category were up 2.8%.

Bonfire night also sparked sales uplifts as fireworks rose 35% and sausages advanced 31%.

Sales of warming foods such as hot pies and bacon rose 13% and 9.6% respectively, while the colder weather also prompted shoppers to consider the festive season, driving up sales of gift wrap 33% year-on-year.