John Lewis Department Store
- Never Knowingly Undersold on Oxford Street
The John Lewis Department Store began its career on Oxford Street in 1864 as a drapers shop, selling fabric mainly intended for use in making clothing. John Spedan Lewis, son of the founder, is responsible for the store’s rather innovative governance system.
In 1920 he established the John Lewis Partnership whereby all permanent staff of the store became partners and owners of the business. Although there are quite a few such corporations with such schemes in place these days, this was a daring and unusual step to take at the time. This rather unconventional business model has proven to be a very successful way of running the enterprise, and it is clear that John Spedan Lewis was more than just a little visionary. The chain became known for its motto “Never Knowingly Undersold” which came into usage during the 1920s and is still in force today. If you find an item sold cheaper at a competitor’s store, John Lewis will either match the price or refund you the difference for up to 28 days after your purchase date. The Partnership has grown to include a chain of 32 John Lewis stores located throughout the UK, over 200 Waitrose supermarkets, an online catalogue, and a working farm. The Oxford Street location boasts 7 floors of shopping space packed with clothing, housewares, and technology. The store offers free delivery for larger purchases and can even export your selections back to your home country. They carry a wide variety of beauty brands and fragrances, as well as special services like eyebrow shaping, facials, and nail treatments. There is also a full range of fashion clothing for men, women, and children. The home store departments at John Lewis are quite extensive; you can buy everything from carpets and blinds to fine china and glassware. Furnishing fabrics, trims, and wallpaper of all sorts are available for those who really want to make a unique home statement. The John Lewis Department Store is a great place to shop while in London.
John Lewis Address: 278-306 Oxford Street, Marylebone, W1A 1EX Telephone: 020 7629 7711 Opening Times Monday to Friday 9:30-20:00 (Thursday 21:00), Saturday 9:30-19:00, Sunday 12:00-18:00
Photo courtesy: Dan Lockton
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