What: the new format has been inspired by Nordstrom’s neighbourhood stores

Why is it important: it comes as John Lewis plans to shutter 8 more department stores

John Lewis has been opening concessions in its Waitrose supermarkets. And while only a few have opened so far, it's reportedly planning to ramp up this process considerably as chairwoman Sharon White wants most of its 331 supermarkets to have one within the next year to 18 months.

It added that the new plan to expand the local format has been inspired by US chain Nordstrom’s neighbourhood stores.

While John Lewis remains the only one of the non-luxury-specific UK department store chains not to have faced some sort of collapse in recent years, it's still been under heavy pressure and has been forced to look at new ways of growing its business and maximising its efficiency.

In the face of a fast shift online by consumers (which means the company expects 75% of its sales to come via the web by 2025), the business needs to make sure that its physical spaces really pay their way.

John Lewis plots hundreds of shop-in-shops in Waitrose 

John Lewis is opening concessions in sister brand Waitrose