john lewis home items stopped buying coronavirus lockdown - Expert uk Guide 2025

Spending more time at home during this pandemic has meant that our shopping habits have changed. Little or no work commutes, holiday plans on hold, and a change in daily routine has impacted sales at John Lewis & Partners, and now the retailer has analysed internal sales data and shopping trends in its Shop Live Look report.

This year's Shop Live Look report is designed to showcase trends from January 2020 – early December 2020, exploring how we lived, worked, socialised and shopped.

But what did we stop buying this year? John Lewis reveals the home and lifestyle products with the biggest sales decline.

Alarm clocks (sales fell by 38 per cent)

'Lockdown saw many of us putting our rigid daily schedules aside and sales of alarm clocks fell 38 per cent at John Lewis as we adapted to a more relaxed routine,' the retailer reveals.

john Acctim Zak Analogue Alarm Clock, 7cm, Taupe

£10 at John Lewis

Credit: John Lewis & Partners

Ironing boards (sales fell by 26 per cent)

With the nation told to work from home, the need to look smart fell by the wayside and sales of ironing boards fell 26 per cent in March alone, John Lewis reveals.

Classic Ironing Board, L122 x W38cm

£45 at John Lewis

Credit: John Lewis & Partners

Lunchboxes (sales fell by 20 per cent)

Naturally, working from home saw us spending more time making homemade lunches and sitting down to enjoy a meal. It's perhaps unsurprising that lunchbox sales are down 20 per cent at John Lewis this year.

Mepal Bento Lunch Box, 1.5L, Nordic Pink

£17 at John Lewis

Credit: John Lewis & Partners

Cameras (sales fell by 31 per cent)

With travel restrictions in place as a result of the pandemic and the rise of virtual parties as special occasions were put on the back burner, sales of cameras also fell 31 per cent, with many relying on their phones to capture their lockdown memories.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Compact System Camera with 12-45mm PRO Lens, 4K Ultra HD, 20.4MP, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, EVF, 3” Vari-angle Touch Screen, Silver

£1,499 at John Lewis

Credit: John Lewis & Partners

Suitcases (sales fell by 69 per cent)

'The ongoing pandemic put many holiday plans on hold and demand for suitcases dropped 69 per cent this year,' John Lewis reveals.

Orlando 76cm 4-Wheel Large Suitcase, Yellow

£95 at John Lewis

Credit: John Lewis & Partners

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