John Lewis launches repair trial with Timpson Group
John Lewis is to offer its customers the opportunity to alter, repair, clean or restore their clothes and soft furnishings through a partnership with Timpson Group.
The retailer will be trialling the service at five John Lewis stores in Cheadle, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Welwyn over the next 16 weeks as it looks to help customers prolong the life of their used items instead of throwing them away and buying replacements.
Services will range from fixing minor rips and tears to reviving a wedding dress, restoring the zip on a luxury clutch, or adjusting a pair of curtains. Laundry and dry cleaning options will also be included.
Test and learn
John Lewis said it will use a test and learn approach during the trial to discover the type of services customers look for, the type of garments most repaired, and the demographics of customers seeking to use the service.
Kathleen Mitchell, John Lewis commercial director, added: “Our customers come to us for fashion and homeware that’s well made and will last – and this just takes that mentality and service one step further.
“We want to help them extend the wear of their fashion items and have the option to bring those much-loved items back to life – whether they are hanging by a thread or just need a simple stitch or two.
“Teaming a new, crisp white linen shirt with a pair of much-loved denim shorts gives our customers the opportunity to extend the lifetime of their favourite wardrobe staples, for years to come.”
The service is being offered via Johnsons, the 200 year-old dry cleaning company which is owned by Timpson Group.
Will Langston, managing director of Timpson Direct, said: “Alterations have always been one of the core parts of our business and we have been seeing this increase over the past few years as more customers are conscious about the environment and are wanting to repair and bring back to life some of their well loved garments and accessories.”
