Reality bites: Retailers count the cost of Christmas past
Matthew ValentineDoes the latest retail carnage on UK high streets mean the sector has hit rock bottom? A hardening of attitudes to discounting may show that reality has started to bite.
How John Lewis plans to use Waitrose to boost its quality perceptions
Ellen HammettJohn Lewis outlines “huge opportunities” to leverage the fact people shop for food more than they do non-food as it posts disappointing Christmas results and loses its managing director.
John Lewis boss to step down after Christmas sales hit
Sarah VizardJohn Lewis’s managing director Paula Nickolds was due to take on a new role as brand boss across the Partnership next month but her departure will prompt the company to reconsider the nature of that role.
Return on engagement: Why John Lewis and Diageo are turning to personalisation
Matthew ValentineBrands including John Lewis and Diageo claim personalised products drive sales – and not just at Christmas – but those who judge success by ROI may be missing the point.
The launch of Instagram and John Lewis Christmas ads: Marketing moments of the decade, part I
Russell ParsonsAs the decade draws to a close, Marketing Week looks back at the defining moments of the 2010s from the News of the World phone-hacking scandal to the launch of Instagram and the dawn of influencer culture.
Brands’ shift back to emotional Christmas advertising proves hit and miss
Sarah VizardAfter brands’ more ‘real’, product-focused approach to Christmas last year they have switched back to emotional advertising; but there are as many winners as losers in the brand-building game.
Marketing Week Premium
Unrivalled coverage & practical advice
The strategy behind John Lewis and Waitrose’s first joint Christmas ad
Sarah VizardJohn Lewis and Waitrose have joined forces on their first campaign in the latest phase of a broader strategy designed to bring the brands closer together in the minds of consumers.
John Lewis and Waitrose launch first joint Christmas ad about an over-excitable dragon
Sarah VizardThe two retailers are hoping to bring a bit of both their brands to tell the story of a young dragon called Edgar who keeps accidentally ruining Christmas.
John Lewis and Waitrose to merge in restructure that puts marketing jobs at risk
Ellen HammettDubbed ‘The Future Partnership’, the restructure will see John Lewis’s managing director Paula Nickolds become executive director of brand, while Waitrose’s boss Rob Collins is leaving and marketing jobs are at risk.
John Lewis pledges ‘significant’ marketing investment despite first half-year loss
Ellen HammettThe John Lewis Partnership says it will continue to invest “significantly” in marketing to make sure customers “appreciate and understand” its brands.
Is John Lewis and Waitrose’s joint marketing strategy working?
Ellen HammettA year since John Lewis and Waitrose launched their new visual identities and first joint marketing campaign, what impact has it had on each brand and the customer experience?
John Lewis, Ikea and M&S top UK brand health rankings
Ellen HammettIn spite of a challenged high street, retailers lead YouGov BrandIndex’s brand health rankings, while Netflix takes the top spot for most improved.
John Lewis puts focus on differentiation as profits slump
Ellen HammettThe parent company of John Lewis and Waitrose has finished a year of significant investment in its brand and staff with a huge hole in its pocket – weighed down by a sharp 56% decline in non-food profit.
John Lewis boss on why the Christmas ad is still ‘incredibly important’
Ellen HammettBoth John Lewis and Waitrose increased sales in the run-up to Christmas, however they say it is too early to tell what impact the festive campaigns had on both brands.