Online Searches for Gifts, Food, and Decorations Skyrocket
- 70% of Waitrose’s Christmas delivery slots have been booked already
- Searches for Christmas gifts and party food on Waitrose.com tripled
- Sales of decorations up 20% year-on-year
- Single bauble sales increased by 40%
- Wreaths and garlands sales doubled
- John Lewis sees 5% increase in visits year-on-year
- Never Knowingly Undersold promo expected to boost Black Friday trade
Waitrose has reported that 70% of its Christmas delivery slots have been snapped up as customers prepare for the festive season earlier than ever before. The supermarket’s collection slots are also in high demand, with 23 December being the most popular day so far as nine out of ten slots are already filled. Sales of decorations from the John Lewis Christmas Shop, including baubles, trees, and decorations, have increased by 20% year-on-year. Single Bauble sales are up 40% compared to last year, while stockings sales have doubled and wreaths and garlands are up 41%. Searches on Waitrose.com for Christmas gifts and party food have tripled, and searches for Christmas chocolates and desserts have doubled. The company has lowered prices on 55,000 products since the launch of its new look price match last month, resulting in an average of 89,000 extra visits to JohnLewis.com daily compared to the six weeks before the return of Never Knowingly Undersold. Lisa Cherry, head of Buying for Christmas at John Lewis, said: ‘We’ve been surprised by the early shopping trend this year as customers can’t wait to get their hands on festive items with confidence.’ Maddy Wilson, director of own brand, added: ‘Online slots are filling up faster than ever before and customers are stocking up on our Christmas range earlier than usual.’
Factuality Level: 10
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about the increase in sales and customer behavior during the festive season. It includes statistics from Waitrose and John Lewis, quotes from company representatives, and discusses specific product trends without any personal perspective or misleading information.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the increase in Christmas-related sales and customer behavior, but it lacks a deeper analysis or exploration of the reasons behind these trends. It also does not offer any actionable insights or new knowledge beyond reporting the numbers.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the increase in sales and demand for Christmas products at Waitrose and John Lewis, which are both retail companies. While it does not directly impact financial markets, it highlights the financial relevance of consumer behavior and spending patterns during the festive season.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: No extreme event is mentioned in the text and it’s not related to any major crisis or disaster.
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