John Lewis is a chain of department stores in the UK which, alongside grocery stablemate Waitrose, forms the employee-owned John Lewis Partnership.
John Lewis was formed in 1846 when its eponymous founder opened a drapery shop on Oxford Street. In 1906, Lewis bought a controlling stake in the famous Sloane Square store, Peter Jones, which it still operates today.
By 1914, Lewis appointed his son, John Spedan Lewis, as chair of Peter Jones and the foundations for the John Lewis business we know today were laid. Spedan Lewis created the “never knowingly undersold” pledge, and made early moves to establish the partnership model, paying staff based on turnover and launching a fortnightly newspaper to keep workers informed about the retailer’s performance.
In the 1930s, John Lewis expanded, buying businesses including Jessop & Son and Tyrrell & Green, but did not rebrand them all to John Lewis until the early 2000s as it sought to establish a nationally recognised brand.
But the business has been challenged since the turn of the millennium, with profits falling and its much vaunted partnership bonus - paid to all staff - being scrapped in 2020 for the first time since 1953.
John Lewis Partnership chair Dame Sharon White has cautioned that higher inflation is inevitable unless more people return to work
John Lewis has appointed former M&S and Inditex exec Queralt Ferrer as its first design director for fashion as it seeks to compete on the high street. Retail Week explores what she will bring to the table and whether she can bring the department store back into fashion
John Lewis has appointed its first director of design for fashion as it prepares to “accelerate plans to expand our own-brand ranges with design that will inspire and excite customers”.
John Lewis has confirmed the first three locations for its build-to-rent scheme as it aims to build 10,000 homes by 2030.
John Lewis is dipping its toe into clothing rental after kicking off a trial with kidswear rental platform Thelittleloop.
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