Fashion and beauty to the rescue as John Lewis weekly sales dip

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Feb 20, 2018

Fashion rode to the rescue at John Lewis again in the latest week as the seven days to February 17 saw total sales dipping, but the fashion directory with a fairly strong rise.

Total sales dropped 0.7% in the period, although we don’t know what they dropped to as the company isn’t giving out chain-specific figures any more.

But while the total number slipped, Fashion directory sales rose 3.3% and womenswear sales stormed ahead with a 16.6% increase that was certainly impressive at what can often be a difficult time of year. 

The Fashion category, which includes beauty, was also boosted by customers purchasing Valentine's Day gifts with “notably strong" sales of jewellery, perfume and purses. The Charlotte Tilbury counter opened in its flagship Oxford Street store last week and also saw “good sales”. 

And there’s plenty of newness to hopefully drive sales in late February and March too as this week a range of dresses, designed by Eudon Choi for the chain’s Modern Rarity label, goes on sale in shops and online.

Meanwhile, Home sales were down 3.7% but once again, Valentine's Day helped increase sales in Gifts, Cook and Dine where sales were up 3.%, with gift food up 11.5%.