John Lewis to open 7 Nov

John Lewis has announced that its new ‘at home’ shop in Ashford will open its doors to customers at 9am on Thursday 7th November 2013.

Located on a site close to junction 9 of the M20 in Kent, John Lewis at home Ashford will focus on furniture, furnishing accessories, electrical and home technology.

The 40,000 sq ft shop will be spread across two floors and will be the retailer’s tenth ‘at home’ shop.

Customers will also have a wide range of services on offer including computer terminals for browsing the wider johnlewis.com assortment, as well as the free John Lewis Click and Collect service which allows shoppers to order products online before 7pm and collect them at the branch after 2pm the following day or opt for home delivery.

The shop will feature a customer cafe and additional services include the John Lewis Gift List, the Home Design Service and the newly launched ‘Any shape, Any Fabric’ service which lets customers design their own sofas and chairs by choosing from more than 250 frames and 400 fabrics.

Glynis Gunning-Stevenson, branch manager, John Lewis at home Ashford, said: “I’m delighted to be announcing the opening date of John Lewis at home Ashford and together with my team of Partners (staff) will be excited to welcoming customers through the doors come Thursday 7th November.

“We’re looking forward to becoming part of the local community in Ashford, providing shoppers with convenient access to our inspiring products, great value and exceptional customer service.

"It’s fantastic to see momentum build as the shop starts to really take shape ahead of opening day.”

Gerry Clarkson, leader of Ashford borough council said: “This is really positive news, we look forward to the 7th of November.

"We have said all along that John Lewis is exactly the type of company we want to attract to the borough and I believe that when such a successful name with a strong reputation for high quality invests in your area it demonstrates the confidence that exists in Ashford as a place to do business.

"Ashford weathered the economic downturn well and this is evidence of the exciting period that now awaits us.

“Of course, in being able to achieve an opening date in the run-up to Christmas, it increases our retail offer at a crucial time of year, complementing our bustling town centre.

"The arrival of this exciting new store will give residents and visitors an additional reason to come to Ashford to find additional presents for families and friends.

"Not only that but of course the new store brings job opportunities to the area. We therefore welcome John Lewis to the local community and wish them all the best with the new store.”

John Lewis at home Ashford will be open Monday to Friday from 9am until 8pm, Saturday from 9am until 7pm and Sunday from 10.30am until 5pm (plus Sunday browse time from 10.30am until 11am).

Media release 0216/13