John Lewis to launch smaller store format

John Lewis is to launch a new smaller store format focussed on home furnishings. The stores are planned to be a third of the size of a typical John Lewis department store and will sell furniture and other goods as well as having an espresso bar, customer collection and gift list services. John Lewis is investing £6 million in the venture, which is in addition to its plans to expand its chain of 27 department stores.

A trial store will open in Poole in October, with its performance over the Christmas period expected to be the primary driver on whether to roll out more stores next year. John Lewis has its eye on 30 other locations.

"The new format has been based on an enormous amount of research, which showed us that there are areas of the country where consumers wanted to be able to shop at a John Lewis branch within a 40 minute journey of their home," said retail director, Gareth Thomas.

"We know our competitors have a much higher level of coverage in the UK than we do and our research has shown that there are growth opportunities for our business in smaller format shops, giving our customers more convenient access to John Lewis products."

Image: John Lewis store