John Lewis shoppers come in from the rain

By GARETH MACKIE
Published on 21/07/2012 00:00

Department store chain John Lewis has posted another double-digit rise in weekly sales as shoppers came in from the rain to buy Olympic-themed goods.

The employee-owned group said sales rose 17.3 per cent to £70.3 million in the week to 14 July. Its Aberdeen store was one of the best performers with a 19 per cent jump in sales, while Edinburgh and Glasgow enjoyed growth of 9.7 and 11.2 per cent respectively.

Sales of London 2012 products helped fuel a 39 per cent year-on-year surge in sportswear, and the group said consumers were engaging in some “retail therapy” as the wet weather coincided with the final week of its sale. Online sales leapt 50.6 per cent.

The group also owns supermarket chain Waitrose, where sales rose 6.9 per cent to £108.2m during the week.