Opinion: John Lewis results show stores urgently need new purpose
By 
George MacDonald2020-03-06T12:10:00
There was a striking line in the John Lewis Partnership’s results that threw into relief a question that taxes many retailers, not just the group’s new chair Dame Sharon White – what role does the store play as online continues to transform the industry?
The partnership reported a “one-off reduction” of £123m in the value of John Lewis department stores “principally reflecting a reassessment of the role that shops play in driving online purchases”.
The statement that shops – some at least – have become less important in powering ecommerce sales potentially undermines what has been a comforting mantra for bricks-and-mortar retailers: that stores, through their importance to services such as click and collect, are an advantage in building online appeal.
Not quite. Or at least, let’s hope not.
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