02 December 2023 , 07:44
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John Lewis is set to provide a new health service to customers from this month at select locations - just in time for Christmas.
The upmarket retail brand is partnering with diagnostics firm Randox Health to open clinics in three of its stores in a bid to entice customers back to the chain after sales slumped by 2 percent in the first half of the year. Recent research by NTT DATA UK&I found more than half (53 percent) of Britons would rather shop online than on the high street when buying clothes.
In addition to the optician services and beauty and wellness clinics already offered in some locations, shoppers will now have access to various health checks including tests for vitamin deficiencies and hormone imbalances, with appointments conducted by Randox staff in private consultation rooms. They can also sign up to Randox programmes which start at £295.
Randox's direct-to-consumer brand, Randox Health, was launched in 2008 (Getty Images)The first clinic will open at John Lewis' High Wycombe store, followed by further openings in Bluewater and Cheltenham.
Randox was set up in 1982 and has 20 branches across the UK but rose to prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic after the UK's Department of Health awarded the company a staggering 22 contracts. But Randox later found itself subject to an investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) over the "transparency and management" of these contracts in a lobbying scandal that involved Conservative MP Owen Paterson.
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The watchdog concluded that there was no evidence contracts were awarded improperly. Naomi Simcock, executive director of John Lewis said: "As trusted stores for local communities across the country, we can play an important role by making services like healthcare and wellness more convenient and accessible.
In Randox we have an experienced and innovative partner to extend our range of in-store services, to help customers proactively manage their health and wellbeing."
John Lewis health clinic locations
High Wycombe – opening December 18
Bluewater – opening December
Cheltenham – opening January