John Lewis launches new homewares store

John Lewis usually takes more than five years to take a new department store from first plans to cutting the red ribbon, but it is just five months since the plan for the Poole store was made public. Photograph: Frank Baron

The new dedicated homewares store will employ 150 new 'partners' and stock 100,000 lines in its 40,000 sq ft of shopfloor space. Photograph: Frank Baron

A host of gifts, soft furnishings and candles are being stocked - but the store is not selling its range of mirrors, pictures, carpets, rugs or fitted kitchens. Photograph: Frank Baron

The Christmas shop on the upper level of the store will be replaced by a selection of garden furniture after the festive season has come to a close. Photograph: Frank Baron

John Lewis insisted the downturn was an opportunity to cash in on cheap deals for unwanted out-of-town retail space, fill the gap left by collapsed rivals and lay the foundations for future growth. Photograph: Frank Baron

Shoppers walk straight into the bedding department, complete with 28 different types of pillow. "It's a killer assortment," says the man behind this new-look shop. Photograph: Frank Baron

Tim Harrison, the retailer's head of new formats, described the Poole store's array of electricals as "authoritative". Photograph: Frank Baron

The lighting department has always been one of John Lewis's strengths, with the new Poole store containing an impressive 750 lamps. Photograph: Frank Baron

John Lewis unveiled a 50% collapse in half-year profits in September, with most of the damage done by the homewares departments, which generate nearly one third of the retail chain's total sales. Photograph: Frank Baron

The retail chain is looking to place a John Lewis outlet within a 40-minute drive of all UK shoppers, which currently less than 60% of the population have. Photograph: Frank Baron