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John Lewis had reported that its home technology sales rose 28.9 per cent in the week to November 9th.
Analysts say that the department store benefitted last week from the news that Comet was going into administration, coupled with the half-term school holidays falling a week later than last year.
With news of 6,000 Comet jobs being at risk, and the retailer’s vouchers being temporarily suspended, it seems shoppers looked to alternative stores to get their tech goods for Christmas.
In fact, it wasn’t just home technology sales that rose, overall sales at John Lewis were up 17.9 per cent.
“A number of factors came together last week to give us a robust score of 17.9 per cent on last year. The later half-term across much of the country undoubtedly helped drive footfall into the shops, as did the distinctly autumnal weather,” managing director Andy Street told the media.
“Beyond that, new product launches in technology, a competitor’s ‘extravaganza’ and the sad news of another’s likely demise undoubtedly combined to provide a lively end to the week.”
Street seemed positive about the Christmas period, commenting: “We do feel that we have the magical word ‘momentum’ with us as we go into Christmas.”
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