Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Home Solutions is the name of a new service by department store group John Lewis, which allows customers to source and book trusted tradespeople for a range of home improvement services.
The service has already been trialled and is being rolled out across selected areas in London and Berkshire this week.
Richard Ambler, Head of John Lewis home solutions, said: “We are delighted to roll out our Home Solutions service across London and Berkshire, particularly as our research shows that this audience is more often than not turning to professional tradespeople for jobs around the house.
“We are now making it even easier for customers to ensure they are getting the best possible service for these jobs – as we understand how time-consuming and stressful it can be. With more people than ever looking for ‘home solutions’, we’re proud to offer just that, alongside the exceptional service expected of John Lewis.”
The research conducted by YouGov on behalf of John Lewis revealed that the nation’s homeowners are turning to tradespeople to carry out even the most basic DIY tasks rather than attempting it themselves.
In the survey, 78% said they would use a trusted professional to carry out home improvement tasks, with a further 63% admitting to feeling uncomfortable completing tasks such as plumbing. Those in London were the most uncomfortable with undertaking DIY jobs, including changing a fuse and fixing a leaking tap.
The survey also suggested that more British home owners than ever before are turning to trusted tradespeople to fix up their homes, potentially driven by the ‘fear of messing up’, with 32% admitting they were now more likely to turn to a professional DIYer than they were five years ago.
The top five factors cited by respondents when booking tradespeople were:
- Trust (83%)
- Value for money (76%)
- Credentials (76%)
- Ease of booking (41%)
- Recommendations from previous customers (38%)
The retailer said its Home Solutions service allows customers to source and book tradespeople including gardeners, electricians and painters, online or via an app.
All the tradespeople have been vetted and approved by a specialist John Lewis staff member. A five-stage recruitment process includes viewing past work to ensure only the best tradespeople are offered to all customers searching DIY solutions.
The service comes with a 12-month guarantee, with John Lewis taking responsibility for the quality of work completed.
