Department Stores
Department Stores focuses on the strategies, performance, and transformation of leading UK department store groups. This section examines trading updates, leadership changes, store formats, and digital innovation among major retail players. Retail Sector’s Department Stores coverage provides insight into how these multi-category retailers are adapting to evolving consumer expectations, online competition, and market pressures — offering retail professionals valuable intelligence on business models, partnerships, and growth strategies shaping the sector’s future.
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Nov- 2025 -4 November
John Lewis unveils 2025 Christmas ad
John Lewis has unveiled its 2025 Christmas advert, marking the start of the festive retail season with a story of connection set to a reimagined 1990s dance classic. The campaign, created by Saatchi and Saatchi, features Where Love Lives by Alison Limerick, with a new version by producer and artist…
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3 November
John Lewis to launch VIP experiences for loyalty card members
John Lewis is set to open a VIP lounge at its flagship store on Oxford Street in London for loyalty card members, according to reports from The Telegraph. The company has revealed that it will be trialling the VIP area until Christmas, with customers able to get a complimentary glass…
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Oct- 2025 -23 October
Dunelm Q1 total sales rise 6.2% to £428m
Dunelm has revealed that its total sales rose 6.2% to £428m for the 13 weeks ended 27 September 2025. The company stated that this growth was driven by both higher volumes and increased average item values from product and category mix. Alongside this, its digital sales represented 40% of its…
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16 October
John Lewis launches supplier platform to expand premium brands
John Lewis has launched a new supplier platform aimed at speeding up the addition of premium fashion and lifestyle brands to its range, as part of its ongoing strategy to strengthen its position in the higher-end retail market. The platform, developed with technology firm Mirakl, allows suppliers to list and…
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6 October
John Lewis appoints new director of merchandising
John Lewis has appointed Anna Milne as its new director of merchandising, a new role that will be part of John Lewis management board. Most recently, she has been the merchandising director for the luxury lifestyle brands Net-A-Porter and Mr Porter. Milne has nearly 20 years of experience in retail,…
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2 October
John Lewis appoints new chief people officer
The John Lewis Partnership has announced the appointment of Helen Webb OBE as its new chief people officer, joining the partnership on 24 November. Webb was most recently chief people officer at WHSmith, supporting the business through large scale employee changes, and prior to that was chief people and services…
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Sep- 2025 -29 September
Harrods ‘not engaging’ with hackers following customer data leak
Harrods has announced it will not be engaging with hackers after the personal details of an estimated 430,000 customers were exposed following a data breach. The luxury department store revealed the information, which includes basic personal identifiers including name and contact details but does not include account passwords or payment…
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29 September
Debenhams expands into US with department store deal
Debenhams Group has expanded into the US, with its fashion brands now available through the online marketplaces of Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. The move marks a “significant step” in Debenhams Group’s international growth strategy and “reflects the strong overseas appetite” for British labels, including Coast, Warehouse, Oasis, Nasty Gal and…
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25 September
DFS profits rebound to £32.9m
DFS has announced it has returned to profit in the year ended 29 June 2025, posting a profit-before-tax of £32.9m, up from a loss of £1.7m. Alongside this, the company saw its revenues jump 4.4% to £1.03bn, up from £987.1m in the previous year. It also saw its reported order…
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11 September
John Lewis H1 losses widen amid tax and budget costs
The John Lewis Partnership has fallen to a £34m loss in the first half of the year, up from a £5m loss the same period last year, attributing the widened loss to a new packaging tax and the effects of the budget. Excluding exceptional items, losses almost tripled from £33m…
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