John Lewis to open VIP lounge for loyalty card members

Core Points - John Lewis is opening a VIP area called the John Lewis Lounge at its Oxford Street store to enhance customer experience and loyalty [1][3] - The lounge will be available for trial until Christmas, offering complimentary drinks and services to loyalty card members [2] - The initiative is part of a broader strategy to revitalize department stores and attract customers back after losing market share to competitors [3][4] Investment and Financial Strategy - The John Lewis Partnership is investing approximately £800 million in refurbishing department stores and enhancing Waitrose supermarkets [4] - The number of My John Lewis loyalty members has increased by 13% over the past year, reaching 3.8 million [5] - The company aims to launch a joint loyalty card for both department stores and supermarkets, although plans have faced delays [6] Financial Performance - Pre-tax losses increased from £30 million to £88 million in the first half of 2024 due to rising costs, including National Insurance contributions [8] - The company anticipates higher profits in the second half of the financial year, which includes the Christmas period [7]