Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
At 5.30am tomorrow morning, John Lewis will open its first ever airport shop at Heathrow Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal.
Doors will open as the first passengers en route to Washington travel through the newly refurbished Terminal.
The 3,600sq ft shop is located on the top floor of the departure lounge. The deaprtment store group says the outlet ‘curates the best of John Lewis home, fashion, gifting and seasonal ranges; it will showcase own-brand products, designer collaborations and exclusives’. Major brands on offer include Orla Kiely home, Charbonnel and Walker, Hackett and Barbour.
John Lewis marks its 150th anniversary this year and Heathrow is the retailer’s 42nd shop. Paula Nickolds, buying and brand director at John Lewis, said: “This opening is a significant step forward in developing our international strategy. Terminal 2 will serve 20 million passengers each year and will offer John Lewis access to one of the most concentrated, valuable and influential markets in the world. We hope to bring the John Lewis brand to a wider set of international customers – showcasing our offer within a dynamic environment, building brand awareness and credibility as a worldwide brand.”
John Lewis currently delivers to 33 countries outside the UK and Ireland which equates to 75% of Terminal 2 destinations. The retailer is also expanding its international wholesale business, developing a specific offer focused on bed, bath and tableware in partnership with five Shinsegae department stores in South Korea, with plans to roll out the offer to more of their stores.
In a further development, last month John Lewis announced a ‘Click & Commute’ shop to open in St Pancras station. Opening in the Autumn, the shop will be the retailer’s first convenience format, providing an opportunity to pilot a new way to shop for its existing customers and showcase the brand to those less familiar. If successful, the format could be rolled out to other transport hubs and high street locations, John Lewis said.
