In its eagerly anticipated annual report, ‘How We Shop, Live And Look’, John Lewis & Partners highlighted some of the key trends the retailer has seen over the past 12 months.
These included consumers waging war on plastic waste; decluttering their homes – thanks to the Marie Kondo craze – and embracing mindfulness, with LEGO for adults high on the list of purchases. Also trending were animal print – with sales of leopard print up 333% – as well as easy care succulents for the home.
Out of favour however, were clutch bags, with the department store removing them from their own brand womenswear accessories range.
Looking ahead to 2020, the report highlighted that we will see the ‘crystal craze’ going mainstream, with crystals to suit different moods embedded in scented candles.
For John Lewis & Partners, the ‘war on plastic’ has been a major sales influence over the past year. Sales of reusable bottles have continued to grow, increasing by 15% over the past 12 months. Additionally, in line with the forthcoming ban on plastic straws, the report revealed that consumers are currently investing in stainless steel reusable straws, with sales up by a whopping 1573%.
Also highlighted were everyday essentials such as travel mugs and lunch boxes, with customers multi-purchasing a range of sizes and styles of re-usable water bottles suitable for gym bags, commutes, desks and handbags.
And while cocktails shaker sales dropped by 20%, home bars have become a big trend, according to the report, with people choosing to stay at home with friends and family, enjoying cocktail nights and informal dinner parties.
“A growing range of services are also at the heart of what we offer, designed to meet the individual needs of customers and embrace the fun of shopping,” said John Lewis & Partners’ trading director Simon Coble. “Offering the ability to delight customers with immersive experiences and make their purchases more meaningful is where bricks triumph over clicks.”
Top: John Lewis & Partners has just released its annual consumer trends report.
