John Lewis expands in-store services amid 800 million pound transformation

British department store giant John Lewis is expanding its range of specialist in-store services, adding travel, fine art, healthcare and luxury piercing partnerships as it continues to reposition its department stores as experiential retail destinations.

The retailer is introducing Audley Travel hubs across 12 stores from November, marking the travel company’s first high street presence in its 30-year history. Destination specialists will offer tailored holiday planning across more than 90 destinations, including safaris, cruises, beach holidays and cultural trips.

Clarendon Fine Art is also opening dedicated galleries in John Lewis' Oxford Street, Cheadle and Southampton stores, providing personalised art consultancy and curated collections spanning contemporary artists and 20th-century masters.

Meanwhile, preventative healthcare provider Randox Health is more than doubling its existing presence to seven John Lewis stores, while luxury piercing and jewellery brand Tish Lyon is expanding to nine locations by the end of the year.

The new partnerships form part of John Lewis’s wider 800 million pound brand transformation, which is focused on making stores destinations combining shopping, services, hospitality and expert advice.

The retailer has recently invested in a new sports and wellness concept across Oxford Street, Liverpool, Cheadle and Glasgow, bringing together sportswear, footwear, wearable technology, recovery products and expert services. It has also committed 50 million pounds to refurbish five stores this year, including more than 20 million pounds for Glasgow, with the wider estate set to benefit from the transformation programme.

John Lewis said demand for its advisory services increased more than 5 percent in the first half of the year, with the latest services to sit alongside existing offerings including personal styling, home design and nursery consultations.

The investment comes as the group's department store division faces trading pressure. In the 26 weeks to August 1, John Lewis sales fell 2 percent to 2.02 billion pounds, while fashion sales declined to 501 million pounds from 526 million pounds. The division recorded an adjusted operating loss of 83 million pounds.

John Lewis said the new partnerships are intended to give customers additional reasons to visit stores, while combining its physical presence with specialist expertise and its wider omnichannel offer.