John Lewis - Dame Sharon under pressure
Discussion
Her CV is very impressive but nothing in retail, or in the private sector, prior to the John Lewis appointment. However she took up the position at a very challenging time, with the pandemic followed by cost of living increases, and she's in charge of one of the more expensive mainstream supermarkets.
Difficult to see how John Lewis weren't going to suffer at the moment whoever was in charge.
Difficult to see how John Lewis weren't going to suffer at the moment whoever was in charge.
JL seem to focus too much on the Chair which is strange as it is meant to be a non-operational role. What she (really the Board) is proposing is probably correct but the ‘partners’ will stop it for now until they have to take in capital on worse terms in a few years time. Broken business structure from a governance and financing perspective run by a Board too scared to deal with the issue 5+ years ago so it is now overloaded with debt in a rising interest rate environment so that it is now backed into a corner. And that’s before we get onto the actual over dependence on bricks and mortar. The mistake she made was taking the job as she was always going to be the fall girl for now before being proven right after the event.
Camoradi said:
Her CV is very impressive but nothing in retail, or in the private sector, prior to the John Lewis appointment. However she took up the position at a very challenging time, with the pandemic followed by cost of living increases, and she's in charge of one of the more expensive mainstream supermarkets.
Difficult to see how John Lewis weren't going to suffer at the moment whoever was in charge.
I don’t think a complete absence of retail and private sector experience was ever going to play to her advantage.Difficult to see how John Lewis weren't going to suffer at the moment whoever was in charge.
I do agree however that JL does at times appear a charming anachronism.
JL are a relic on the High Street. Many of their competitors have closed or merged and there are few remaining - Fenwicks, Harvey Nichols etc. Even HoF is like WHSmith and just full of concession stands.
I find it strange that Partners expect a bonus especially with Covid and the current economic woes and profit levels. It's popularity with the chattering classes have waned as they have dropped many of their USPs - never knowingly undersold and service. The chatterers have moved to online to Amazon and AO.
And they haven't reformed their regimented structure that gets on my tits - 2 people working flat out on tills with spare tills and a queue out the door. Supervisor stands there with a folder watching. In my world, you need to snatch money from people queuing asap, before they change their minds and put things back on shelves.
I find it strange that Partners expect a bonus especially with Covid and the current economic woes and profit levels. It's popularity with the chattering classes have waned as they have dropped many of their USPs - never knowingly undersold and service. The chatterers have moved to online to Amazon and AO.
And they haven't reformed their regimented structure that gets on my tits - 2 people working flat out on tills with spare tills and a queue out the door. Supervisor stands there with a folder watching. In my world, you need to snatch money from people queuing asap, before they change their minds and put things back on shelves.
vikingaero said:
JL are a relic on the High Street.
It's popularity with the chattering classes have waned as they have dropped many of their USPs - never knowingly undersold and service. The chatterers have moved to online to Amazon and AO.
This 100%, it harks back to a pre internet time when the middle classes would buy everything at John Lewis. People would also purchase items from John Lewis due to their brilliant guarantee and no quibble refund policy.It's popularity with the chattering classes have waned as they have dropped many of their USPs - never knowingly undersold and service. The chatterers have moved to online to Amazon and AO.
JL have got rid of their guarantee and refund policy and it is just a race to the bottom price wise. Even going to the stores isn't the same fluffy and warm feeling shopping experience it used to be.
Like M&S it is inevitable that they will wither away as they have not moved with the times and their target demographic have gone elsewhere.
John Lewis is one of the few retail experiences I like. But issue is I maybe by things there 2 or 3 times a year so I can't call myself a customer in the accepted sense.
So tend to agree like BHS Debhanams Top Shop etc it's a slow death but a death none the less. M&S has perhaps been a sucess at reinventing itself but I am not sure JL can
So tend to agree like BHS Debhanams Top Shop etc it's a slow death but a death none the less. M&S has perhaps been a sucess at reinventing itself but I am not sure JL can
Louis Balfour said:
Camoradi said:
Her CV is very impressive but nothing in retail, or in the private sector, prior to the John Lewis appointment. However she took up the position at a very challenging time, with the pandemic followed by cost of living increases, and she's in charge of one of the more expensive mainstream supermarkets.
Difficult to see how John Lewis weren't going to suffer at the moment whoever was in charge.
I don’t think a complete absence of retail and private sector experience was ever going to play to her advantage.Difficult to see how John Lewis weren't going to suffer at the moment whoever was in charge.
I do agree however that JL does at times appear a charming anachronism.
And while the Chair role might not be operational as mentioned by another poster, I think its still executive (I've not seen anything to suggest its a non-exec role)
Camoradi said:
I'm sticking with Aldi. Their prices are low, and a weekly 3 minute session at their checkout has done wonders for my reaction times 
Yes. It's very strange how they do that. The small area for stuff to sit after being scanned makes you race to pack rather than going at your own pace and letting it pile up Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff