John Lewis confirms eight shops earmarked for closure will never reopen – see the full list
JOHN LEWIS has today confirmed eight stores will never reopen in a move that puts 1,300 jobs at risk.
The shops that will shut down for good were first earmarked for closure in July, and include the Birmingham and Watford department stores.
The retailer says affected shops were already struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But a shift towards online shopping, which Covid-19 has accelerated, has helped to speed up the closures.
The retailer says it will try to find the 1,300 affected staff, 399 of whom worked at the Birmingham store alone, new roles where possible.
It's the latest in a long line of high street closures and job losses with already struggling retailers pushed over the edge by the coronavirus crisis.
Which John Lewis stores will never reopen?
JOHN Lewis has announced the following shops won't reopen:
- Birmingham - department store
- Croydon - at home shop
- Heathrow - travel hub
- Newbury - at home shop
- St Pancras - travel hub
- Swindon - at home shop
- Tamworth - at home shop
- Watford - department store
Before the virus, 40 per cent of John Lewis' sales were online - but the company predicts this could now be closer to 60% to 70% of total sales this year and next.
John Lewis has 51 stores in the UK so the closures will bring this number down to 42, plus one outlet store in Swindon.
The department store chain has been reopening branches in stages after homeware shops were given the green light to welcome back customers when lockdown eased on May 21.
Businesses in turmoil in 2019 and 2020
IN 2019 and so far in 2020 we've seen the following firms go under:
- Jamie Oliver's "Jamie's Italian" chain go bust, alongside his Fifteen and Barbecoa restaurants
- Links of London go into administration putting 350 jobs at risk
- Marks and Spencer close 35 more stores as it pushes forward with plans to axe 145 shops across the UK
- Dozens of Monsoon and Accessorize stores close
- Struggling shoe shop Office has said it "could close shops" as part of restructuring plans
- Fears Pizza Express could be next to go into administration as it "brings in emergency advisers"
- Hairdressing chain Supercuts went into administration in October 2019 putting 1,200 jobs and 220 salons at risk
- Maternity and baby retailer Mothercare collapsed into administration in November 2019 after 58 years on the high street, putting 2,500 jobs at risk
- Department store chain Beales went into administration in January 2020 with 23 shops and 1,052 jobs at risk
- High end fashion brand Ted Baker said it plans to axe 160 jobs in February 2020
- Mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse said in March 2020 that it'll close all 531 standalone stores in April
- Vintage furnishing and fashion firm Cath Kidston said it was closing all 60 high street stores in March 2020
- Fashion store Animal said in April 2020 it was closing all 21 of its UK stores
- Department store chain Debenhams fell into administration for the second time in April 2020
- P&O Ferries said in May 2020 that it was looking at making 1,100 workers redundant
- TUI warned in May 2020 that 8,000 jobs could be cut due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis
- British Airways said in May 2020 that it still plans on pressing ahead with 12,000 job cuts
- Oasis and Warehouse went into administration in May 2020, with 1,800 staff placed on furlough
- Shoe chain Aldo collapsed into administration in June 2020 with five stores permanently closed
- Victoria's Secrets plunged into administration in June 2020, putting 800 jobs at risk
- Fashion chain Quiz put its shop business into administration in June 2020, putting 82 stores at risk
All 43 of John Lewis' stores have now reopened.
In a statement, John Lewis said: "This is a very sad occasion and one we never thought was imaginable when we first opened these shops.
"Our expectation was that we would trade in these locations for many years to come, but they were financially challenged before the pandemic and we have not been able to find a way that would allow us to turn that around.
"We are grateful to those who have expressed their support since announcing the proposed closure last month, and for the incredible professionalism our partners have shown - they remain our absolute priority and will be fully supported over the coming weeks."
more on john lewis
It comes as the Centre for Retail Research predicts 20,000 shops could close for good this year.
Elsewhere on the high street Cath Kidston and Laura Ashley have already collapsed during the coronavirus crisis.
While Debenhams has also been forced to call in administrators for the second time in 12 months.