Comet demise boosts John Lewis Department store chain John Lewis is already benefiting from the demise of electricals retailer Comet, according to analysts, after the employee-owned firm today posted a double-digit rise in sales. Sales at John Lewis rose by 17.9 per cent year-on-year in the week to 3 November, bouncing back from a slowdown in sales growth during October. Analysts said the firm had also benefited from the English half-term school holidays falling a week later than the previous year. Managing director Andy Street said: "The later half term across much of the country undoubtedly helped drive footfall into the shops, as did the distinctly autumnal weather. "Beyond that, product launches in technology, a competitor's "extravaganza" and the sad news of another's likely demise undoubtedly combined to provide a lively end to the week." Howard Archer, chief economist at IHG Global Insight, said: "It was encouraging that this was the best year-on-year sales growth since late-September and it gives a modest lift to hopes that consumers will spend at a decent rate over the critical Christmas period that is fast approaching." All of the chain's Scottish branches shared in the improvement in sales, with Glasgow up 6.1 per cent, Edinburgh climbing 5.1 per cent and Aberdeen 1.3 per cent higher. Caroline Gulliver, an analyst at Espirito Santo, noted: "Last night Andy Street said at a dinner for the media that he expected 2012 to be a record Christmas for John Lewis, commenting: "We do feel that we have the magical word momentum with us as we go into Christmas." That said, he conceded that sales growth was likely to be mid to high single digit, rather than the current double digit year-to-date run rate. And just to top off excitement around Christmas at John Lewis, the company will launch its TV ad campaign today.