John Lewis launches new fitness and wellness concept at Oxford Street store
John Lewis has launched a new sports and wellness concept at its Oxford Street store as part of its wider £800 million transformation programme.
The retailer said the move makes it the first UK retailer to bring sportswear, footwear, wearable technology, recovery, AI-powered fitness and expert services together in one destination.
Subscribe to TRBLaunching first in London before rolling out to Liverpool, Cheadle and Glasgow, the new format enables customers to discover, compare and try products, access specialist services and receive expert advice in store.
According to IMARC, the wellness industry is expected to grow to £141 billion by 2034, so John Lewis is aiming to position itself as a key player in the category.
Each department spans around 5,000 square feet to ensure there is space for customers to move easily between apparel, footwear, technology, home fitness and recovery. Instead of separating products into traditional retail categories, the departments are arranged around activities including running, training and outdoor pursuits.
The departments will showcase premium sports brands including Nike, Brooks and Patagonia, alongside wearable technology from Garmin, Oura and Whoop, recovery products from Therabody, and premium home fitness equipment from Peloton, NordicTrack and Speediance.
The concept will also provide free gait analysis from a self-service scanner offering quick recommendations to in-depth treadmill-based analysis via Peloton Tread.
In addition, AI-powered fitness features via MagicAI’s intelligent fitness mirror will offer personalised training, real-time rep counting and form correction.
Meanwhile, monthly ‘Jog Lewis’ run clubs will launch across all four locations, giving customers the chance to join group runs, test products and connect with local running communities.
The Oxford Street launch will be followed by Liverpool on 19 August, Cheadle on 26 August and Glasgow in late September.
Peter Ruis, managing director of John Lewis, said: “Customers increasingly shop around a goal rather than a traditional retail category. Whether someone’s training for their first marathon, taking up Hyrox or simply looking to live a healthier lifestyle, they want everything they need in one place.
“Our combination of leading brands, expert Partners, nationwide shops and strong digital offer means we’re uniquely placed to support customers across every part of their fitness journey – from finding the right footwear and technical clothing to discovering the latest wearable technology, home fitness and recovery products.
“This is another important step in our wider investment to create more inspiring, joined-up experiences for customers, however and wherever they choose to shop with us.”
