John Lewis sales jump boosted by clearance items

The John Lewis Partnership posted a 3.9% increase in sales to £227.6m in the week to July 1 overall, with sales at its department store division up 8.8% to £98.7m.

In John Lewis’ first full week of its Summer clearance, sales of electricals and home technology items posted a 12.4% hike driven by sales of Apple products, up 34%.

Sales of home items increased 8% overall with purchases of outdoor items up 38.4% and bed linen up 12.8%.

Fashion sales rose 7%, aided by more clement weather, while beauty, leisure and wellbeing purchases increased 12.5% overall, bolstered by a 12.8% and 18.6% jump in sales across the department store retailer’s beauty and sport ranges respectively.

Waitrose

Sister retailer Waitrose saw sales edge up 0.5% during the period, with sales declining across all of its product categories with the exception of ambient items, which increased 2.8%.

Summer tipples drove purchases at the upmarket grocer as sales of beer, wines and spirits increased nearly 10%, driven by a 44% and 70% jump in rosé and Pimm’s sales respectively.

Picnic items also sold well and quiche sales jumped 25%, prepared fruit rose 9% and sandwiches and ready-to-eat salad increased 6%.