John Lewis to offer free WiFi in all stores
John Lewis has announced that it is to become the first UK department store retailer to offer free WiFi access to customers in its shops nationwide.
The move forms part of the retailer’s plans to offer its customers a full multi-channel, multi-platform shopping experience.
The WiFi access from BT Openzone will allow wireless connectivity to the internet for customers via any wireless-enabled PC, tablet or smartphone.
The service is free to all customers who register once with an email address and gives them access to all areas of the internet including competitors’ sites to enable them to compare prices. When accessing the John Lewis website , My John Lewis and the Wish List will automatically sync between the customer’s home PC and their mobile in-store.
The retailer said that more than 60% of its customers research products online before visiting a shop to make a purchase and that in-store WiFi will allow them to continue and complete that journey. Digital Champions will be in each branch to help customers to shop online as part of John Lewis’s commitment to Race Online, the government initiative to encourage people to use the internet.
John Lewis is also developing an iPhone App which will include a number of features to help customers access John Lewis online ranges, product reviews and videos in-store.
John Lewis IT director Paul Coby said: “This is a major development in John Lewis’s vision for multi-channel retail. We have made great progress with online which is now growing at between 25% and 30% compared to last year and amounts to circa 20% of our revenue.
“We know our customers are mobile and want to be connected anywhere, anytime and any place. This of course means in John Lewis shops and we are committed to providing that connectivity and easy access to our fantastic assortment through our customers’ smart phones, iPhones and iPads.”
