John Lewis to revamp London flagship

Department store chain John Lewis has announced that it plans to invest £8m in a refurbishment programme for its flagship store. The investment is part of its ongoing revamp for its existing shops, and aims to establish the John Lewis Oxford

Street branch as a major international shopping destination in time for the London 2012 Olympics.

The significant improvements to the store will be the on the ground floor, with the biggest development being to its menswear department, which will increase in size by 2,000sq ft to 17,000sq ft, with a sleek and modern design – mirroring the concept recently rolled out in menswear departments in John Lewis Stratford City and Peter Jones.

This will be followed by a major redevelopment of its beauty hall, which will include the introduction of a raft of new brands including premium cosmetics brands such as Chanel, Dior and Crème de la Mer that will be positioned like 'houses' in a Town Square around a central area focused on fragrance and niche assortments such as haircare, skincare, and nails.

As a Tier Three Provider to London 2012, John Lewis will also be adding a pop-up Olympics shop on the ground floor from April to complement the London 2012 shop on the fifth floor, which itself will double in size. All changes to the ground floor are set for completion in early May.

Other plans for John Lewis Oxford Street include Chinese cultural training for staff and the launch of a new information desk for foreign visitors.

John Lewis Oxford Street managing director Simon Fowler said: “The multi-million pound overhaul of John Lewis Oxford Street marks the first step in John Lewis’s preparations for the London 2012 Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee the month before.

“The investment underscores our commitment to making John Lewis Oxford Street the must-visit destination for those coming to the capital this summer and will provide our existing customers with access to new brands and a broader product assortment.”