What: Yinka Ilori’s collaboration with Bloomingdale’s transforms the flagship store into an immersive, artist-led retail destination with exclusive product launches.

Why it is important: The project builds on the trend of transforming flagship stores into cultural destinations.

Yinka Ilori’s partnership with Bloomingdale’s brings a bold, imaginative transformation to the retailer’s 59th Street flagship, centering on a floral-themed takeover that extends from the windows and façade to the interior retail spaces. This collaboration, rooted in Ilori’s Nigerian heritage and inspired by the wildflowers of Central Park, infuses the store with vibrant color and playful design, inviting customers to engage with art and creativity at every turn. The “Cherish Your Magic” carousel pop-up exemplifies the experiential approach, featuring exclusive product collaborations across categories such as beauty, fashion, gaming, and homeware, including partnerships with Byredo, Augustinus Bader, and PlayStation. The initiative not only elevates the visual identity of Bloomingdale’s but also creates an environment that encourages play, imagination, and community engagement. By leveraging artist-led design and exclusive merchandise, Bloomingdale’s positions its flagship as a destination that transcends traditional retail, fostering deeper connections with customers through immersive storytelling and cultural resonance.

IADS Notes:

Yinka Ilori’s collaboration with Bloomingdale’s exemplifies the retail industry’s shift toward experiential environments, echoing Selfridges’ artist-led window displays in May 2025 and the broader movement toward unconventional experiential retail highlighted in January 2025. The integration of exclusive, multi-category product collaborations mirrors innovative pop-up activations in Asia from February 2025 and the dynamic use of pop-up shops discussed in October 2024. The bold visual transformation of Bloomingdale’s flagship, reminiscent of Louis Vuitton’s dramatic NYC facade in December 2024, underscores how flagship locations are being reimagined as destinations blending commerce, culture, and community.

Artful takeover at the Bloomingdale’s flagship

What: John Lewis Partnership launches its largest-ever Christmas recruitment drive, hiring over 13,000 seasonal staff across stores and distribution centres to support peak trading.

Why it is important: This initiative reflects how leading retailers are leveraging flexible staffing, leadership transformation, and omnichannel investment to drive operational excellence and customer experience during critical trading periods.

John Lewis Partnership is embarking on its biggest seasonal recruitment campaign to date, aiming to hire 13,700 temporary staff for the golden quarter, including 11,500 in customer-facing roles and 2,200 in distribution and supply chain positions. This surge in hiring is designed to ensure exceptional service and operational efficiency during the crucial Christmas and Black Friday periods, when the retailer expects to welcome 30 million in-store visitors and handle 180 million website visits. The recruitment drive is part of a broader turnaround strategy led by chair Jason Tarry, which includes leadership changes, a renewed focus on core retail operations, and significant investment in both physical and digital infrastructure. By modernising its distribution centres and enhancing omnichannel capabilities, John Lewis is positioning itself to meet the demands of peak trading while maintaining its commitment to customer service and its “Never Knowingly Undersold” promise. This approach highlights the retailer’s adaptability and commitment to operational excellence in a highly competitive market.

IADS Notes:

John Lewis’s record seasonal hiring mirrors a wider industry trend, with El Corte Inglés and others also expanding flexible holiday staffing to support both sales and logistics (October, November 2024). The recruitment drive is closely tied to the Partnership’s turnaround, including leadership restructuring under Jason Tarry and the streamlining of staff committees to boost profitability and agility (October 2024, June 2025). Major investments in logistics and store renovations—£400 million and £800 million respectively—have strengthened John Lewis’s omnichannel capabilities, ensuring robust support for peak trading and enhancing the customer experience (October, November 2024).

John Lewis launches biggest-ever Christmas recruitment drive

What: John Lewis celebrates 100 years of its Never Knowingly Undersold promise with a new campaign and major brand and store investments.

Why it is important: This milestone demonstrates how heritage, strategic partnerships, and investment in experience can keep a legacy retailer relevant in a changing market.

John Lewis marks the centenary of its iconic Never Knowingly Undersold promise with a vibrant new campaign, including a 100-second film that celebrates a century of British life and retail innovation. The campaign, crafted by Saatchi & Saatchi and featuring a soundtrack by Mike Skinner, aims to reinforce the retailer’s enduring relevance and value proposition. Managing director Peter Ruis emphasizes the importance of staying true to the brand’s heritage while remaining competitive and forward-looking, especially as the department store format continues to evolve. Amid challenging economic conditions, John Lewis remains optimistic, positioning itself as a national retail leader across categories such as fashion, tech, and nursery. The centenary also coincides with the relaunch of Topshop and Topman in stores and online, reflecting a broader strategy of exclusive partnerships and assortment expansion. These initiatives are supported by an £800 million investment in store upgrades and the onboarding of over 100 new fashion brands, underscoring the retailer’s commitment to experience, innovation, and customer trust.

IADS Notes:

John Lewis’s centenary campaign is the culmination of a year marked by the strategic revival of its Never Knowingly Undersold pledge in September 2024, which drove a surge in customer engagement and sales. The retailer’s transformation includes exclusive designer collaborations, significant expansion of its brand portfolio, and a £800 million investment in modernizing stores and enhancing the customer experience. This multi-category approach, spanning fashion, home, and technology, demonstrates how John Lewis balances its heritage with innovation to remain a leader in British retail, as evidenced by its ongoing success in customer satisfaction and experiential retail throughout 2024 and 2025.

John Lewis celebrates 100 years of Never Knowingly Undersold