John Lewis sales rise after Olympics
17/08/2012 - 10:56:28Department store chain John Lewis saw sports sales take the gold last week as customers continued to be inspired by the London 2012 Olympics.
The employee-owned group said sport sales, including clothing and equipment, surged 178% in the week to August 11, helping total sales jump 14.9% to £60.75m (€77.5m).
John Lewis, which is an Olympic sponsor, said the final week of the Games and closing weekend celebrations “certainly played a part in our success” as some 18 branches reported sales growth.
And the company allayed fears that the event had turned central London into a “ghost town” as it revealed an 18.9% surge in its Oxford Street store and a 5.9% increase in its Peter Jones store in Sloane Square.