Department store chain experiences surge in home sales and online purchases, stating that there are 'big opportunities' to gain ground in coming weeks.
Sales were up 1% for the week to September 5, boosted, said the retailer by a combination of a late 'back to school' surge and good weather.

John Lewis commercial director Andrea O'Donnell said the results for the seven-day period were better than the company "had dared hope for". She commented: "Up on last year by 1%, and also beating the two year figure, we saw a really strong trading pattern for most of the week, allowing us to beat last years Bank holiday by 7%."

In home, boosted by the back to school trade, sales of core stationary were up 9%, with lunchboxes also performing well. Ms O'Donnell explained that strong figures from last year "made the going slightly tougher in home overall". However, the retailer experienced a positive reaction to new lines in lighting, gifts and its extended express curtains' gallery, hoping that this will bode well for the coming months.

The department store's online offer, John Lewis Direct saw a 23.9% surge in sales for the week, compared with the same period last year. Almost 10% of johnlewis.com sales were collected from shops in what was a record week for its 'Deliver to Store For Collection' service, while 4% of orders were placed in branches through PACT.

Ms O'Donnell concluded: "Looking ahead to the rest of the month, there are big opportunities for us to gain ground. By the end of the week, we will be annualising against weaker figures after the collapse of the first big financial institution last year. I see every reason for a mood of quiet optimism."