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Murray & the Ashes blamed for store's sales slump

ESPN staff
July 20, 2013
Andy Murray made history at Wimbledon © Getty Images
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The biggest department store group in Britain John Lewis has blamed Andy Murray triumphing at Wimbledon and the first Ashes Test for a fall in their sales.

Murray became the first Briton in 77 years to win at SW19 when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final, while England took a 1-0 series lead against Australia with a 14-run victory at Trent Bridge.

And this had led John Lewis to pin the blame on those two British triumphs for their slump in sales in recent weeks with shoppers staying out of their stores - as they revealed their year on year sales figure fell 8.7% to £64.2 million.

"The week started with Andy Murray clinching the Wimbledon title, which meant that all those who were not out in the sunshine spent the afternoon indoors watching the tennis," the department store said, adding that the hot weather the country has been experiencing has also played its part.

"From Wednesday onwards sport lovers had the first of the Ashes test matches to watch … So with the festival of sport and with the most glorious heatwave weather it was not surprising to see a heavy deficit on trade from last year."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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