Sales at department store chain John Lewis dipped 3.4% last week after it said potential customers put off shopping trips on election day.
Figures published today show all but seven of the staff-owned group’s 26 outlets suffered a year-on-year fall in sales in the week to last Saturday.
The lacklustre performance, which was in spite of many shops opening on Bank Holiday Monday for the first time, left sales 2.6% lower for the past 14 weeks.
Simon Fowler, customer service director, said: “The media noise around the general election proved something of a distraction for some of our customers and our sales on election day indicated that many customers were reluctant to make a shopping trip as well as a trip to the polling station.”
The figures are in line with the rest of the retail sector, where industry data has pointed to the toughest trading conditions in a decade.
The environment has proved more favourable for supermarket chain Waitrose, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership.
It recorded growth of 20.5% in sales for the week slightly stronger than the trend for the year so far – as established stores and those bought from Morrisons last year drove a buoyant performance.
Waitrose director Janice Doherty said: “The weather continued to have its effect and the Bank Holiday, warmer temperatures and intermittent sun saw sales of barbecue, suncare and soft fruits soar.
“Tulip sales also enjoyed great success, trebling against last year.”
Waitrose, which has 166 branches, also said last Thursday was quiet as customers went to cast their votes.
In March, John Lewis said its 63,000 partners, who co-own the department store and supermarket business, would share a bonus pot of £106m following a 24% rise in pretax profits to £216m in the year to 29 January.
References: EGi News 13/05/05
