The move comes as John Lewis tries to rebalance its store estate to reflect how customers want to shop.
The eight shops identified for closure four ‘At Home’ shops in Ashford, Basingstoke, Chester and Tunbridge Welles and four department stores in Aberdeen, Peterborough, Sheffield and York. The remaining 34 John Lewis shops will reopen from 12 April subject to Government guidance – with the exception of Glasgow, which will reopen from 26 April, and Edinburgh, which will reopen on 14 May.
Given the significant shift to online shopping in recent years, John Lewis does not think the performance of the outlined eight stores can be substantially improved. The group expects around 60 per cent to 70 per cent of John Lewis sales to be made online in the future. Nearly 50 per cent of John Lewis customers now use a combination of store and online when making purchases.
The company said in a statement: “Our department stores remain critical to our future success. They provide a sensory experience that online cannot, supported by the expertise of our Partners. Having fewer bigger stores allows us to invest significantly to improve our remaining ones, showcasing our products with more space dedicated to experiences and services.”
