Latest news: New John Lewis stores

Plans to open ten city centre stores will create 3,000 jobs over five years, doubling profits for the staff-owned retail chain from £3billion to £6billion over the next ten years. 29/07/2011 

John Lewis’ expansion plans had been hampered amidst the economic downturn but, as a new store is set to open in Exeter early next year, the company is now looking for store managers and store-level staff to fill around 300 new roles. A similar number of positions are expected to be filled at each subsequent branch.

The recently launched store development programme will see the retailer open smaller specialist ‘at home’ outlet stores with sketches also in place for a new, full-sized department store in Birmingham. 

‘There is obviously a shake-up going on. But, as always in turbulent times, there are opportunities for some and less for others. We very much see this as an opportunity for us at the moment,’ said commercial director for the retailer, Andrea O’Donnell.

The firm has suggested that the stores will open in areas where there isn’t an existing site, but other than Exeter these have yet to be decided. All of the jobs will be within the new stores.

‘Starting early next year with the recruitment of 300 staff for the new Exeter branch, similar numbers will be recruited at each of the ten identified locations going forward, resulting in around 3,000 jobs being created through the development of our new, flexible format,’ said managing director Andy Street.

‘John Lewis is committed to continuing to invest in bricks and mortar, particularly as we know that new shops stimulate our brand presence and online sales in areas where we trade,’ he added.