UK retailer John Lewis is on the expansion trail and now has its sights set on the Philippines.
The retailer, which has a strong cosmetics offering and sells brands such as ghd, Origins and Heathcote & Ivory, has announced plans to open shop-in-shops within 11 branches of SM department stores and Our Home stores in the Philippines, including in SM's flagship location in Makati. The shops are slated to open in the summer and will be between 300sqft and 1000sqft.
The latest retail move is part of John Lewis’ strategy to “seed its brand with international customers”, which includes delivery to 33 countries via its website and a shop in London Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2.
John Lewis’ expansion into the Philippines follows a similar strategy to its recent decision to open shop-in-shop departments in three branches of Singapore department store Robinsons. John Lewis has also opened outlets in seven branches of South Korean department store Shinsegae.
Andy Street, Managing Director at John Lewis, said: “SM Retail and Robinsons are the perfect partners to help bring the John Lewis brand to a new Asian customer base. We are actively looking for more international partnerships, and expect to make more announcements about our international plans in the next year. While our move into the Philippines and Singapore will give us access to a new emerging market, our focus for physical expansion remains firmly on the UK, with eight new shops scheduled to open across the country in the next few years.”
