John Lewis will have its best ever Christmas this year, says boss Andy Street

While unveiling the retailer’s Christmas production selection in London yesterday, Street said: “We will beat Christmas last year to have our best ever Christmas.”

John Lewis was one of the best performing retailers last Christmas. The department store had a record sales week in the seven days to Saturday December 22, 2012 as revenue broke through the £150m mark for the first time hitting £157.8m, up 26.5% on the equivalent week last year. Like-for-likes soared 13% in the five weeks to December 29.

Street added that John Lewis will benefit from being the UK’s top multichannel retailer and that mobile will be more important than ever this Christmas.

“This year will be the year of the mobile Christmas,” he said. Mobile accounts for 25% of all traffic to Johnlewis.com currently.

Street predicted that the new Somerset lines from designer collaborator Alice Temperley would be a big hit this Christmas. For the first time Somerset will feature lingerie and kidswear.

Street added that there is some “great innovation in electricals” this year, including retro style sound systems inspired by US hit series Mad Men.

Street said he was not sure at this stage what would be the number one selling item over Christmas.

“I’m not sure what the best seller will be this year – it depends if Apple launches a product later this year. If they do it will be that, ” Street said.

Outgoing product and brand director Peter Ruis predicted that tablets would be the big seller this Christmas.

John Lewis has become famous for its Christmas ads, and while Street refused to give any details away, he said it would be a departure from other years.