Midlands & East Anglia Premier Retail

John Lewis

John Lewis
Written by Roma Publications

A grand development for John Lewis

John Lewis

 Credit: Ed Robinson/OneRedEye

Leading retailer, John Lewis has opened its brand new £35million Birmingham store within the city’s recently redeveloped Grand Central retail development. The new store – the retailer’s largest new store in four years – is one of the biggest John Lewis department stores in the UK and demonstrates the business’ commitment to the British high street.

The 250,000 sq ft shop has created 650 new jobs across Birmingham and the wider region, with many positions made available to local long-term and youth unemployed during the recruitment process. In total, the retailer received more than 10,000 applications for the new jobs – more than 15 applicants per role.

John Lewis Birmingham is the retailer’s most innovative shop to date and showcases several brand new services and concepts, including fashion and lifestyle concept Loved & Found, and the first John Lewis-branded Spa & Beauty. These form part of the business’ ambition to expand the services and experiences within its shops and its commitment to investing in shops as part of an omnichannel approach.

Andy Street, Managing Director for John Lewis, said:
“The new store sends a clear message that John Lewis is firmly committed to the British High Street and that physical shops remain as important to us as they do to our customers.
“Birmingham is a city which we have wanted to be a part of for many years and the New Street Station and Grand Central development offered us the perfect opportunity to make this a reality.
“Our new Birmingham regional flagship shop is a bold expression of the very best of John Lewis in 2015 and it is particularly exciting that customers will be able to step directly from New Street Station, into four floors of inspiring fashion, home and technology.”

John Lewis
Lisa Williams, Head of Branch for John Lewis Birmingham, added:
“Birmingham is a city that has always led the way, so it feels right that Birmingham is home to our most innovative shop to date.
“Our recruitment process was incredibly successful, with unprecedented demand – at one point we were receiving one application every minute. We have built a great team, with our 650 Partners coming from right across the region.
“Becoming a part of the local community is incredibly important to us and I was delighted to be joined by the three local charities we are supporting who helped us officially open the shop. We are excited to welcome customers for the first time and hope that they are as delighted in this new shopping experience as we are.”

John Lewis operates 45 John Lewis shops across the UK, including 32 department stores, 11 John Lewis at home stores and shops at St Pancras International and Heathrow Terminal 2. The company also has a dedicated online presence via johnlewis.com.

John Lewis Birmingham Grand Central is open from 9am until 8pm Monday to Saturday and 11am until 5pm on Sundays. A 10.30am until 11am browsing time is in operation at the store on Sunday mornings.

For further information about John Lewis, please visit: www.johnlewis.com.

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Roma Publications