Breakfast briefing: Retail news on John Lewis, Aldi and Scottish retail sales

John Lewis reveals customer shopping habits

John Lewis has delved into a year’s worth of sales data and consumer insight to reveal its first-ever detailed report on its customers shopping habits, and found the TV hit The Great British Bake Off led to soaring sales of kitchenware.

In the report, How We Shop, Live and Look, the department store group provides insight into the way its customers shop and what the big sales hits of the past year have been.

John Lewis said it had grown its customer base by one million in the past year and rather contrary to perceptions that the retailer appeals to an older demographic are older, just 28% of its customers are over 55. Some 39% of its shoppers are under 34 years old.

The findings highlighted just how influential events and TV shows are on shopping purchases. Sales of food mixers soared 62% and cake cooling racks rose 70% during the airing of TV hit The Great British Bake Off. 

Aldi to launch festive campaign in November

Aldi is to launch its festive campaign on November 4 after having doubled the size of its Christmas range this year to include fresh lobster tails and a fresh version of its three-bird roast, The Guardian reported.

Scottish retail sales volumes up by 1.1% in third quarter

Retail sales volumes in Scotland increased by 1.1% quarter-on-quarter in the three months to September, official figures show, but this sharp rise trailed a 1.6% advance in Britain as a whole. In the third quarter, the growth in retail sales volumes north of the Border accelerated from a 0.4% rise in the three months to June.

However, rise in retail sales volumes in Scotland has trailed that of Britain as a whole significantly for two consecutive quarters.

In the third quarter, retail sales volumes in Scotland were 2% higher than in the same period of last year. This was adrift of a year on year sales increase of 2.7% in Britain in the three months to September.