Sales have begun to improve at John Lewis, down just 1.3 per cent last week, helped by the cold snap in the weather.

John Lewis’s sales rose 10 per cent on the previous week, when comparable sales plummeted 9.8 per cent. The cold weather last week, coupled with a late half-term, encouraged shoppers to buy early winter purchases.

The department store’s best performers were children’s toys and crafts. However, big-ticket home items continued to fall short of last year.

John Lewis retail operations director Patrick Lewis said: “The pundits might be forecasting slower trade, but the next seven weeks offer us a fantastic opportunity. We have a great offer and footfall in our shops will now grow consistently week on week.”

This week John Lewis also confirmed plans to open its first store outside the UK in the Republic of Ireland. The 250,000 sq ft (23,225 sq m) store, which will anchor the scheme at the Dublin Central shopping centre, is scheduled to be open by 2013.

Sales at Waitrose remained just ahead at 0.5 per cent up on last year, with a strong return in its opening days at Westfield London.

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