John Lewis Website More Than Doubles Its Own Record Sales Day

Department store John Lewis said its 'Black Friday' sales promotion boosted sales and made Friday its business day online ever.

The store said Friday's sales were more than double its previous record for a single day's trade on Johnlewis.com.

Sales last week increased 35.7 per cent compared to the same week a year earlier, the department store said in a statement yesterday afternoon. Total sales at the chain increased 18.4 per cent. 

The chain is also benefiting from the timing of its Black Friday Sale event which fell a week earlier last year. Sales in the previous week, the second to last week in December were weaker as a result of the calendar effect.

'Any doubt whether UK customers are interested in Black Friday has been cast aside as record sales were notched up online and via mobile devices,' online director Mark Lewis said.

The record could still be beaten if demand on Cyber Monday, which falls tomorrow, meets expectations across the retail sector.

The chain's management expect iPads, cashmere and Ugg-branded products would be among the most popular.