John Lewis Partnership shutters stores as coronavirus bites
The John Lewis Partnership will not reopen eight John Lewis stores as it looks to “secure the business’s long-term future and respond to customers' shopping needs”.
It is pulling the plug on two of the smallest in the estate - travel hub shops at Heathrow and St Pancras, four At Home shops in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth and two full size department stores in Birmingham and Watford. Approximately 1,300 employees will now enter into consultation.
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“Prior to the pandemic, the eight shops identified were already financially challenged and the pandemic has accelerated the switch from shopping in-store to online. Before the virus struck, 40% of John Lewis sales were online. This could now be closer to 60 to 70% of total sales this year and next,“ a press release states.
Sharon White, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership (pictured above), says: “Closing a shop is always incredibly difficult and today’s announcement will come as very sad news to customers and Partners.”
“However, we believe closures are necessary to help us secure the sustainability of the Partnership - and continue to meet the needs of our customers however and wherever they want to shop. Redundancies are always an absolute last resort and we will do everything we can to keep as many Partners as possible within our business.”
White insists that there are many reasons to be optimistic about the Partnership’s future. “Waitrose and John Lewis are two of the UK’s most loved and trusted brands and we have adapted to the challenges of the pandemic by responding to the new needs of customers.”
“We will soon announce the output of our strategic review which will ensure our brands stay relevant for future generations of customers,” she concludes.