Department store chain John Lewis’s new Value range proved popular last week when its performance and that of other new ranges beat expectations.

John Lewis department stores recorded a sales rise of 6.6% across the board compared with the previous week.

Fashion performed strongly. Childrenswear was up 16%, toys, nursery and haberdashery up 14%, menswear and sports up 11%, accessories and beauty up 10% and womenswear up 7%.

The retailer reported that John Lewis Direct’s trading was up 46.9% and described the launches of Hotel Chocolat and the Little White Company as “incredibly encouraging”.

At branch level, 20 stores did better than last year, with front-runners Cheadle, Trafford, Cambridge, Knight & Lee and Welwyn the front-runners.

A 6% increase in electricals and home technology was driven by 12% growth in consumer electronics. The new Apple iPod music players were especially popular. Home was up 3%, gifts and decorative accessories up 9%, furniture up 9% and cooking and dining up 6%.

Selling operations director David Barford: “It’s an exciting week as we move ever closer to peak trading with this week seeing the first full week of trading in Bluewater since project completion and the opening of our new branch in Cardiff.”

At John Lewis Partnership grocery stablemate Waitrose, food sales were up 12% to £82.28 million compared with last year.

 

 

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