In October, John Lewis Partnership announced plans to integrate the John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose & Partners management teams, stating that a reduction of around 75 senior roles (from 225), would improve efficiency and help it save some £100m.
Today, the partnership announced that Paula Nickolds – current MD of John Lewis & Partners, who was slated to become executive director, brand – will be leaving the business rather than taking up the new post.
What does Furniture News' retailer panel think about the changes taking place?
Royce Clark (Grampian Furnishers): I have really admired the John Lewis structure and ethos in recent years – they’re certainly a business that do a lot of things right and have retained brand loyalty, and this move will only prove good or bad over a period of time!
Steve Adams (MattressOnline): It’s no secret that John Lewis is experiencing some challenging times, and with Waitrose losing the Ocado contract it sounds like a necessary cost-saving exercise. Let’s hope a smaller, more focused management team can turn things around.
Ross Beveridge (Archers Sleepcentre): Many retailers are currently suffering from diminishing returns, and this just shows how difficult retail is at the moment. While this may provide a better and faster route to joined-up thinking for the brands, it undoubtedly serves as a proactive cost-cutting exercise, and shows that even the biggest names can be forced to batten down the hatches in the current climate.
Read more opinions on the big developments of 2019 in our annual retailer review, in January's issue of Furniture News.
