John Lewis saw online sales rise 42 per cent for the five weeks to 1st January taking it past £500m milestone for the year to date.
Total sales for the five week period, at £545m, 8.9 per cent up on last year. Managing director Andy Street said: “Our success confirms our strength as a multi-channel retailer. This capability was particularly important during the adverse weather. Online sales soared during the first snowfall as customers struggled to get to the shops.
“When the weather turned for a second time closer to Christmas, shoppers wanted the reassurance of having their goods in their hands and our shops saw sales surge as a result.”
* The bad weather had a significant effect on retail sales. Next has estimated that it lost £22m of full price sales as a result of the snow – some 2.2 per cent of the season’s total sales. HMV also said its sales had been hit by the bad weather, but it is also struggling with the underlying weakness of its core entertainment markets.
