Warm weather in run up to Mother’s `day gives boost to department store’s home ranges, despite overall drop in week’s sales.
John Lewis's weekly sales figures for the seven days to March 21, 2009 revealed a 'double-digit growth' in outdoor living as customers took advantage of the warmer weather.

The department store chain said it saw "strong positive customer reaction" to its new outdoor ranges.

Floorcoverings, gifts, china, glass and cleaning also performed well in the seven-day period. Large appliances fared well and secured 'a significant level of turnover', according to the company.

Overall home was down 15.6% on the same period last year. However, John Lewis said that the timing of Easter last year, coupled with a season of good weather made for 'challenging trading comparisons'.

Sales across the department store for the week to March 21 dropped 12.6% to £44.41m compared with the same period last year

John Lewis head of communications, Simon Fowler said; "A combination of the fall of Easter last year and some glorious weather was always going to mean we were up against some challenging trading comparisons. And so it proved to be. However, on the back of this, what is reassuring is our underlying trade continued to maintain a steady course and we captured some valuable additional sales in the lead up to Mother's Day."

He added: "Our focus now shifts from Mother's Day to Easter, where encouragingly our performance is already ahead of last year, indicating that the later fall of Easter should play to our advantage in the weeks ahead. A focus on outstanding shopkeeping across all areas will stand us in good stead as we prepare ourselves for this important trading peak in this first half year."