Department store group John Lewis is to launch virtual window displays in seven of its stores allowing shoppers to make purchases as part of its online Clearance sale, it was announced today.
While the retailer does not open its shops for clearance until December 27th 2011, the online sale begins at 5pm on Christmas Eve and customers passing the Peter Jones, Oxford Street, Brent Cross, Milton Keynes, Reading, Liverpool and Edinburgh can scan barcodes displayed in those shop‘s windows on their iPhones.
Once the barcode has been scanned, customers will be directed to the John Lewis website in order to finalise the purchase, with those scanned between Christmas Eve and December 27th delivered in-store on December 28th as part of its click &collect service, or shoppers can opt for a named day home delivery service from December 29th.
The sale runs until January 15th 2012 and the move allows the retailer to capitalise on high street footfall as shoppers rush to town centres on Boxing Day in the hope of a bargain.
Following a successful trial in its Brighton branch earlier in the year, the clearance window displays will feature thousands of products and promise discounts of up to 50 per cent.
Simon Russell, Head of Multi-Channel at John Lewis, said that the windows help people to shop at their convenience.
He added:“The window displays form part of our coordinated multi-channel approach which includes the roll-out of free WiFi to our shops, the launch of our iPhone app and the extension of Click and Collect which is now available from 129 John Lewis and Waitrose shops.”
