John Lewis news and archive

John Lewis appoints Will Kernan as managing director

UK retail group the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has announced that Peter Ruis has decided to step down from his role as managing director of department store chain John Lewis to pursue new opportunities. Ruis will be succeeded by Will Kernan, currently a non-executive board member of JLP, as part of a succession plan. Ruis will remain with the...

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John Lewis warns of tougher retail conditions ahead of half-year results

John Lewis Partnership chair Jason Tarry has warned employees that trading conditions have worsened, with the retailer preparing for a period of "lower sales and higher costs". The British retailer shared the update in an internal staff blog seen by the Financial Times, posted ahead of the group's half-year results due September 10. Tarry said...

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John Lewis to take on sports and wellness with new investment

British department store John Lewis, which has 38 shops and a strong omnichannel presence, is looking to take on the fitness boom with a new sports and wellness concept, aimed at bringing sportswear, footwear, wearable technology, recovery, AI-powered fitness and expert services together in one destination. Described by the retailer as “...

Fashion

John Lewis unveils fashion collaboration with Rixo

British department store John Lewis is launching its biggest fashion collaboration to date with London-based womenswear brand Rixo this autumn, as it continues to strengthen its premium fashion credentials and support British design talent. The 44-piece John Lewis x Rixo vintage-inspired collection will launch on October 22, spanning apparel,...

Retail

John Lewis mulls closure of in-store services, 200 jobs at risk

British department store John Lewis is reportedly considering the closure of its in-store money exchange service and dedicated gift wrapping areas in a move that could put around 200 jobs at risk. According to the BBC, the decision is being driven by falling demand for these services, particularly as foreign currency exchange increasingly moves...

Retail

John Lewis commits to recruit 1,000 care-experienced young people

The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has committed to offering 1,000 additional roles to young people who have experienced care. The target, set for 2030, is more than double than the prior goal, which had been established as part of the group’s Building Happier Futures programme, which launched in 2022. The initiative specifically applies to...

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Retail

John Lewis to invest 50 million pounds in latest store upgrade plan

Department store John Lewis has announced that it will be investing 50 million pounds across five of its stores this year as part of its long-term programme to transform and elevate all 36 of its stores “into retail destinations for customers to discover, explore, and enjoy”. This latest round of investment will see Glasgow, Cambridge,...

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John Lewis closes Blakelands distribution centre

Department store giant John Lewis has closed its Blakelands National Distribution Centre after more than 40 years in operation. The news was confirmed by John Lewis & Partners’ head of operations, Sarah Payne, who extended a "sincere thank you to the entire Blakelands team” in a post on LinkedIn. Payne stated that the move marked the start of a...

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John Lewis sued by Brent Cross landlords over click-and-collect service

The landlord of London shopping centre Brent Cross is suing John Lewis for a share of its click-and-collect sales, claiming that the department store should pay for online sales collected in-store. In a joint filing with the High Court, Hammerson and former landlord Standard Life Investments have requested clarification on whether sales made via...

Fashion |In Pictures

Amanda Wakeley unveils collaboration with John Lewis

British designer Amanda Wakeley, known for her ‘clean glam’ eveningwear, is making a foray into the premium contemporary category with an exclusive collaboration with John Lewis Partnership, launching on April 21. The Amanda Wakeley line at John Lewis has been developed in collaboration with the designer and the brand development and licensing...

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Jacqui Markham joins John Lewis to lead own-brand fashion strategy

UK department store John Lewis has named Jacqui Markham as its new fashion creative director. The executive will oversee the creative strategy for the retailer’s own-brand collections across womenswear, menswear, and kidswear. Markham transitions to the role from UK contemporary label Whistles, where she held the position of creative director....

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John Lewis increases chairman's salary amidst workforce reduction

John Lewis has increased the salary of its chairman Jason Tarry by more than 20 percent, despite a reduction in its workforce over the past year, according to reports from Business Plus. Tarry, who joined the employee-owned group in September 2024 on a salary of 990,000 pounds, reportedly saw his base pay rise to 1.2 million pounds last April....