Exeter city centre manager John Harvey will be submitting a full report on the successful opening of John Lewis yesterday. Although there were a few 'teething problems' mainly to do with water flooding the lower ground floor, and insufficient water pressure in the 4th floor restaurant the day is being described as a resounding success for the whole city centre. Mr Harvey is extremely optimistic for an increasingly busy weekend.
After much excitement watching what was the old Debenhams building transform into the spectacular JL store, I was always going to be waiting at the front of the queue to experience the opening of Exeter's new fantastic addition. Just about everyone I know was informed that this was my intention, friends at work, on face book and at the gym (missing my usual body pump class, which I never miss!) As my dad waited in the queue at around 8.25am and 40 or so people in front of him, I dashed to Starbucks to fuel us with caffeine for the shopping extravaganza ahead. Only a few drops of rain...
After a grand start to the day, John Lewis has been experiencing one or two teething problems when a burst pipe on the lower ground level caused the floor to be evacuated. The top floor was also out of bounds to shoppers and the first floor escalator is not working. It is unknown at this time how much damage the flooding will have caused.
However, the team tackled the flooding on the lower ground floor and it has now been cleared and is open once more to customers.
When John Lewis opened its doors this morning at 9am there was already a queue of around 150 waiting to be the first customers in the doors. Now a few hours have transpired but there seems no sign of a let up, as shoppers line up down Sidwell Street.
City centre workers on their lunch breaks stared in amazement at the queue, but many went to join it after seeing that it was swift-moving.
It seems many shoppers had taken notice of Exeter City Council's advice to travel in by public transport, as traffic was relatively free-flowing in the city centre, and although the car...
This was the moment the doors opened for the first time at the new Exeter John Lewis store.
Branch manager Kate Connock chatted to partners and VIP guests ahead of the official ribbon cutting ceremony.
Outside queues quickly grew with hundreds of people waiting excitedly.
The shop, which has created 300 new jobs, is the retailer’s first full line flexible format department store and the largest John Lewis shop to open in 2012.
Before the doors opened, Kate, gave a speech to her team of Partners (staff) about the role they will play in bringing the John Lewis...
The success of ercol’s Chiltern range, designed exclusively for John Lewis, shows that there is a continuing hunger for ercol’s exquisite and timeless wooden furniture. To build on this success, ercol has introduced a further two new collections, exclusively for John Lewis, that will broaden the appeal of ercol’s furniture even further.
Pinter – Stylish Dining
The Pinter range has been created with the modern home in mind and has a soft Scandinavian look that will complement many decors and create a comfortable and inspiring dining space for entertaining.
