John Lewis cheers ‘fantastic’ week

Demand for the latest version of Apple’s iPad tablet computer and strong sales of televisions in the south-east of England helped John Lewis department stores to today report a “fantastic” week of trading.

Sales for the seven days to Saturday were up 27.5 per cent on a year ago and by 25 per cent on the equivalent Good Friday week in 2011.

The Scottish stores shared in the boost from Easter, with Glasgow up 19.3 per cent, Aberdeen 18.5 per cent higher and Edinburgh ahead by 14.8 per cent.

Poorer weather at the end of the period also benefited the business as its 36 stores and online operation took £66.7 million in total.

Electronics and home technology was the best performing division, with sales up 59 per cent amid strong appetite for Apple’s iPad3 and as shoppers in London and the surrounding areas prepared for the digital television switchover.

Fashion sales were up by 18 per cent on the back of a strong performance in childrenswear, while the home division improved sales by 16 per cent.

The vast majority of branches achieved double-digit revenues growth in the week, led by Leicester with a 42 per cent uplift and Bluewater, Kent with 38 per cent.

Selling operations director David Barford said: “All in all it was a great week and a fantastic start to the Easter weekend.”

In the Waitrose part of the John Lewis Partnership, sales were up 23 per cent year-on-year and by 4.5 per cent when compared to the week before Easter in 2011.