As the sector saw a 22-year record drop in sales for August and rival department store House of Fraser reported a widening of losses, John Lewis managed to finish week eight a fraction behind last year at -1.0 per cent.
Johnlewis.com again posted the strongest result across the business as JJB Sports and footwear retailer Stylo announced their transactional website plans this week.
Online sales growth was down to 49.3 per cent compared with last week's impressive 69.7 per cent but it was a positive result overall.
The partnership also reported that trade last Saturday was challenging, although there were pleasing results from the Oxford Street store.
Electrical and home technology sales were up 7 per cent like-for-like.
There was a welcomed increase for the menswear, leisure and beauty categories, driven forward by good sales of men's shoes and a strong cosmetics performance.
Rob Collins, director, selling support at John Lewis said that this progress is set to continue: 'We took just over£43 million as a division last week and over the coming weeks those figures start to climb as we begin our ascent towards our seasonal peak.'
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