Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Building work begins next week on the new £7 million John Lewis ‘at home’ in the Kent town of Ashford.
The shop, which will create around 125 jobs, is set to open before the end of the year.
The new build is on a site close to junction 9 of the M20. It will extend over two floors with the ground and first floor selling areas totalling 39,000sq ft. The plans include a customer café and around 200 car parking spaces.
John Lewis managing director Andy Street said: ‘We’re delighted that work is getting underway to open our doors in Ashford this year.
“It’s an ideal fit for us in terms of both location and catchment and we look forward to becoming part of the local community, providing shoppers with access to our inspiring products, great value and exceptional service.”
John Lewis’ ‘at home’ format focuses on housewares, furniture, furnishing accessories, electrical and home technology. To allow customers to access and order a wider John Lewis assortment from johnlewis.com, online ordering points will be located throughout the shop. Customers will also be able to use the free John Lewis Click and Collect service.
The ‘at home’ concept launched in Poole in October 2009. Shops in Croydon, Chichester, Newbury, Tamworth, Chester, Swindon, Tunbridge Wells and Ipswich followed suit.
Ashford will be the 10th ‘at home’ shop and the third John Lewis shop in Kent. The retailer has been an anchor tenant in the Bluewater shopping centre since 1999 and opened John Lewis ‘at home’ Tunbridge Wells in 2010.
There are currently a total of 39 John Lewis shops across the UK: 30 department stores and nine John Lewis ‘at home’.
