In the latest John Lewis & Partners Retail Report published this week, big events to include the World Cup, the Royal Wedding and extreme weather, had a noticeable effect on people’s shopping patterns.
‘In’ were 60” TVs, the colour yellow (thanks to Amal Clooney), rainbows, and the Mulberry Darly bag (thanks to Meghan), boots and inflatables. ‘Out’ were alarm clocks, small TVs, DVD players and door knockers!
It was a defining year for sustainability, with shoppers becoming more mindful about what they were buying and the impact their purchases were having on the planet. The first four months after the final episode of Blue Planet 2 – as many gift retailers will confirm – saw sales of reusable coffee cups, travel cups and flasks shoot up by 71% compared to last year.
In homewares, quirky, eye-catching pieces were among the best sellers with shoppers looking to put their own stamp on their interiors.
“It’s fascinating to see what trends our customers have fallen in and out of love with this year and how big events like the World Cup and the Royal Wedding have such a significant impact on what we buy,” commented Simon Coble, trading director at John Lewis & Partners.
“How we shop is changing at incredible speed and shops need to combine the very best in service and experiences with unique and fantastic products. Plus the mobile phone is vital both as a means to browse and research but also as a place to buy.”
He said that identity was a major theme across all shopping trends this year. “It’s no coincidence that the idea of identity is central to John Lewis’s long term plans. Our strategy is firmly about dialling up what makes us different so that we remain relevant. It is our job not only to celebrate what makes us stand out as a business but also to help our customers celebrate everything that makes them unique too.”
The John Lewis & Partners Retail Report is compiled annually and is based on its shopping data from August 2017 to September 2018.
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