John Lewis announces new Waterstones partnership
John Lewis has announced that a new Waterstones bookshop will launch in its flagship store in London’s Oxford Street.
Due to open in time for Christmas, Waterstones at John Lewis will offer a selection of nearly 20,000 books, including non-fiction, fiction and children’s books.
John Lewis said the new partnership follows rising demand for books in-store and online, which has grown in recent years. It is also in line with its strategy to offer customers an “outstanding in-store experience”.
Katie Papakonstantinou, director of services and hospitality for John Lewis said, “We’re delighted to partner with Waterstones, whose values and customer base are highly aligned with ours. We’re dedicated to offering our customers the best shopping experience possible, and this new bookshop is another way for us to invest in the customer offer, from our products and services to our complimentary hospitality offerings.”
The move also means that Waterstones will once again have a presence in Oxford Street.
Kate Skipper, chief operating officer at Waterstones, added: “We are thrilled to be working with John Lewis on this exciting new partnership and delighted to be returning to Oxford Street this autumn. Waterstones at John Lewis Oxford Street will be an extensively ranged bookshop sited within this iconic flagship department store, perfect for browsing and a hub for author signings, with our booksellers on hand to offer expert customer guidance.”
The new bookshop will be part of the extensive makeover currently being undertaken at the Oxford Street store which includes a new beauty hall, a newly opened rooftop bar and restaurant, and other investments across the store.
