Is John Lewis the next Department store to face problems?

[Ifailed]

profits down by 99% for the past 6 months & that includes Waitrose, so presumably the Dept Store side of things made a loss.

Are we seeing the final demise of Department Stores in the UK?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45506322

My DH has a job that involves working with fast moving consumer goods, and tends to be quite good at predicting things. He reckons the department store is an unworkable and unsustainable model. If that helps?

Be glad to see the back of them

With those stats then I agree they won't be around much longer

Waitrose has become Waitrose and partners, so perhaps they think that can save them.

i wouldnt believe john lewis would fail though

I'm about to spend the stash of vouchers I have sitting around just in case...

Debenhams is next, I think. I saw something about them calling in external help for a re-jig recently.

I like JL, so I'd be sad to see them go. I'd imagine they'd try to move into one site premises, so JL is in with a Waitrose. This would save overheads and assist profitability I imagine. Which is why they've rebranded, I think; it's the first step towards consolidation.

I will be very sorry if they go

With House of Fraser spending most of the year desperately discounting to survive, JL must have lost a lot of money doing price matching. Up until now I thought they were the ones bucking the trend.

I just spent Debenhams vouchers cos I think they will be next

Debenhams is next, I think. I saw something about them calling in external help for a re-jig recently.

Yes, they have.

Nope. No way no how. They have a unique customer base, older people who aren't necessarily bargain hunting.

Having said that, the Edinburgh shop is hugely struggling now that the St James Centre is gone. It only has one door now, way down a hill. No doubt it'll rise again when the new centre opens and people can enter through the cosmetics department again.

Are we seeing the final demise of Department Stores in the UK?

I don’t think it’s that specific. I think we are seeing the demise of bricks and mortar shops.

I'd imagine they'd try to move into one site premises, so JL is in with a Waitrose.

There's two big problems with that, existing Waitrose stores would either have to enlarge, or lose a lot of floor space for the JL general merchandising area. Or if they tried to shoe-horn a Waitrose into a JL, many would have a problem with parking as most do not have car-parks adjacent like Waitrose stores do.

They could try and follow the Sainsbury's/Argos model, and make JL a pick-up only option.

^Waitrose has become Waitrose and partners, so perhaps they think that can save them.*

John Lewis is now JohnLewis and Partners too.

Yesterday our local Waitrose closed its doors. Boo hoo. Made me laugh though in some local website comments, it stated how nice it was to sit in there and have a coffee without buying anything!
Anyway would be dead upset if JL went, but I only do big purchases and Christmas there.

I think out of all the department stores, JL will be the one most likely to turn it around. It's the only one I go to and love so I'm hoping I'm right.

No, I used to work for them. Lions share of the profits will come from Christmas. JL might change but it won't crumble.

No, I used to work for them. Lions share of the profits will come from Christmas. JL might change but it won't crumble.

I think the new CEO has taken it in the wrong direction - done the classic thing of trying to appeal to young bright things like herself, and moved it away from its core and hugely loyal and profitable market. The new store in Westfield White City, so long anticipated by me at least, is all glitz and glamour and very little to actually buy.

They’re pinning their hopes on “experiences you can’t get on Amazon” instore, and the emotional/ethical connection with their customers, which is sound IMO, but the Never Knowingly Undersold guarantee has hurt them badly this year.

Their older customer base isn't going to be around forever though. I think they're struggling to stay relevant.

They were always known for delivering excellent customer service and in my personal experience this has gone down hill so they don't have anything to make them special.

OliviaStabler Profits dropped by 77% in the previous 6 months, and that includes xmas 2017.

I know someone whose DH works for them. He is losing his job next year-all his team are. They have spent a fortune on this rebrand which will take a chunk out the profits.
I like JL but not so much Waitrose. I think Debenhams will be the next one to fall. JL will struggle mind.

I agree about Debenhams being next sadly. I always thought that smaller shops having concessions in department stores was a good thing as it could help them keep going without having to invest in their own shop, but it doesn't seem to be working.

I will be very sad if it goes.

Rebrand though is shite unfortunately. Plus online they've stopped holding your place so if you're searching for say 'toys' with 500 results, then click on one, when you go back you've got to start from the beginning of those results again. Such a small issue, but maddening, and didn't used to happen.

They're opening a new huge debenhams in watford perhaps they will close the smaller crappier ones to make way for the bigger stores