Department store business John Lewis has detailed plans to enable customers to “manage Christmas costs as they suffer from the high cost of living”.
John Lewis has lifted minimum spend requirements for click-and-collect orders until mid-October and extended its seasonal returns policy.
The retailer’s initiatives, which are likely to be mirrored by a similar offer from other retailers, come as the sector seeks to win spend early while shoppers keep a close eye on their budgets.
The minimum spend threshold has been lifted until October 19, which John Lewis said would “make it easier for customers to make smaller orders ahead of Christmas”. Some retailers, such as John Lewis’s arch-rival Marks & Spencer, already offer click-and-collect without any minimum spending restriction.
John Lewis customers will be able to exchange or return goods purchased from today (September 27) onwards until January 28, 2023. It is the first time that facility has been offered during September. John Lewis said it is “because we know that customers are spreading the cost of Christmas”.
The retailer said there is growing evidence of early shopping. It has sold 10 times as many boxed baubles as it had this time last year, and sales of Christmas trees are up 37% versus the same time last year.
John Lewis will also stage “a series of promotions across home, fashion and tech” starting in October.
Customer director Claire Pointon said: “We want to be here for all life’s moments and, despite all the cost-of-living pressures, we’ve seen that our customers are still determined to celebrate Christmas and are buying earlier to help spread out the cost.”
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