International Retail News Promising

A number of U.K. and international retailers have released recent sales figures and new store plans, including John Lewis and H&M.

Department store chain John Lewis has reported its best-ever sales performance last week, up 15 percent on the same weeks last year and continuing its run of good results in the run up to Christmas. Sales were strong in fashion and demand for beauty products and toys were high. The strong figures were mirrored by the British Retail Consortium statement that November’s retail sales in central London were 13.3 percent higher than in November last year.

Marks & Spencer has announced its continued commitment overseas with plans for at least 50 new stores in India over the next few years, in addition to its 14 that are already there.

Meanwhile, Hobbycraft, the 39-store specialist chain, may be sold by the current owners, the Haskins family, which founded the company. Hobbycraft has been posting strong sales and profits this year, the latter up by 67 percent.

In other international retail news, fashion chain H&M has announced an increase in sales of 1 percent in November, but reported sales in December had a satisfactory start with an increase of approximately 11 percent in the first two weeks compared to the same weeks last year. One percent is short of the 4.7 percent that was forecast by H&M, however analysts remain optimistic. H&M has continued to expand this year despite the economic downturn, opening 250 new shops.

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