Waterstones is set to make a notable comeback to the iconic Oxford Street through a significant partnership with John Lewis. This collaboration marks a new chapter for both retailers in one of the UK’s busiest shopping districts.
- The new Waterstones bookshop will open within John Lewis’ flagship store, enhancing the store’s literary offerings.
- Scheduled to open on 8 October, the bookshop will feature an extensive selection of nearly 20,000 books across various genres.
- Waterstones had previously exited Oxford Street in 2016, having once operated four stores along the renowned retail destination.
- Both companies expressed excitement about the potential of this venture to provide enhanced services for their clientele.
Waterstones is poised to re-establish its presence on Oxford Street, partnering with John Lewis to launch a bookshop in the latter’s flagship store. This strategic alliance situates Waterstones on the second floor adjacent to the café, offering a convenient location for shoppers to explore a vast array of literary works.
The shop-in-shop concept is scheduled to open its doors on 8 October, featuring a collection of nearly 20,000 books. Shoppers will find a diverse selection ranging from non-fiction to fiction and children’s books, catering to a wide audience and reaffirming Waterstones’ commitment to providing a comprehensive literary experience.
This venture marks Waterstones’ return to a street where it once operated four separate bookshops. These were closed in 2016, indicating a significant shift in strategy and adaptation to the evolving retail environment.
Comments from Waterstones’ Chief Operating Officer, Kate Skipper, underline the excitement surrounding this development. She highlighted the perfect synergy with John Lewis, describing the new shop as ‘an extensively ranged bookshop’ and a ‘hub for author signings’, emphasising the expertise of their booksellers in enhancing customer experience.
John Lewis supports this new direction with enthusiasm as well. Katie Papakonstantinou, Director of Services and Hospitality, praised Waterstones’ alignment with their values and customer base. She highlighted that investing in such collaborations is essential to sustain their customer proposition amidst significant foot traffic.
The collaboration signifies a strategic return and growth opportunity for Waterstones within one of London’s premier retail zones.
