UK Department Store John Lewis A Reliable Favorite Around the UK

A Top 10 UK Retailer Owned By Its Employees

John Lewis is a kind of upmarket, reliable and reliably English chain of department stores that is everyone's favorite for something. The 27 John Lewis Stores would not be number one on anyone's list for cutting edge fashion. But when it comes to everyday items where long lasting quality matters, they are the first choice stop for lots of things - custom made curtains, school uniforms, good quality bedlinens and towels, stockings and tights, appliances, televisions, notions, fabrics, jewelry, smart and elegant clothing and shoes.

Peter Jones, the Chelsea branch, was the company's second store after its founding as a haberdashery in 1864 on London's Oxford Street. For years Peter Jones has been known as Chelsea's ironmongery - or the top people's hardware store. This is where the best families register their wedding lists and where any Sloane Ranger of a certain age probably chose her first string of pearls.

Unusually, almost from the beginning, John Lewis has been owned by its employees - currently numbering 69,000 in the department stores as well as 194 Waitrose supermarkets and several other businesses. Each employee's year end bonus is a share of the profits representing an equal percentage of his or her salary.

What Would a Visitor Buy in a John Lewis or Peter Jones Store?

Among the items worth looking for to take home are the company's own brand selections of:

• quality bed linens in solid colors, including Egyptian cotton sheets
• napkins, table cloths and napkin rings
• a huge selection of terribly English tea towels that make great souvenirs.
• down filled comforters - usually called duvets in Europe - are great buys, especially during periodic sales, and are boxed for easy shipping or checking on an aircraft.

The stores are well laid out, comfortable to shop and have at least one relaxed restaurant or cafe. They also sell clothing and huge selections accessories for men, women and children, representative selections of cameras and small electronics, excellent children's shoes and a huge range of characteristic British gift items from bone china and silver to cut crystal and art glass.

Do you know a newborn who absolutely must have his or her own bone china Winnie the Pooh or Peter Rabbit dinner set or silver baby cup? This is the place to find it.

Where to Find John Lewis stores

The company's 27 stores are located in or close to most of the larger cities of England and Scotland. A new Cardiff store, scheduled to open in 2009, will expand the group into Wales.
Visit the John Lewis website to learn more about the company and shop online.
Check the store locator to find a local branch of the John Lewis Partnership.