John Lewis Partnership launches ‘future of shopping’ startup challenge

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Oct 29, 2018

The John Lewis Partnership is looking for more technologies and experiences which can make its stores stand out and attract more shoppers with help of its retail tech innovation programme, JLAB.

Over the last few years, the retailer has relentlessly pursued new concepts in an effort to cater to the evolving consumer and stay ahead of its rivals.

Some of the new services it has introduced have included the Experience Desk, which offers customers concierge style shopping, expanded personal styling services, and a variety of themed pop-up experiences such as cinema screenings and gin masterclasses.

The efforts will continue with a new challenge to find leading start-ups with innovative ideas, who will have the opportunity to develop their concepts with John Lewis & Partners through the JLAB programme. In addition to receiving expert advice, successful entrants will have a chance to launch trials and pilots, office space and possible financial investment.

Peter Cross, director of customer experience at John Lewis & Partners, said: “As customer expectations of the shopping experience grow at the fastest pace in living memory, John Lewis & Partners is actively looking to engage with the brightest and most entrepreneurial minds in the nation, whether that be a new technology solution to make shopping more convenient, or an idea that will fundamentally transform how the nation shops.”

Applications for the experiential retail challenge close at midnight on 25 November, and recipients will be selected by a panel of seven judges, made up of senior leaders from across the John Lewis Partnership.