John Lewis plans to close gift wrapping and foreign exchange desks, 200 jobs at risk
10 reported
John Lewis has announced plans to close in-store gift wrapping and foreign exchange desks, putting 200 jobs at risk. The 36-store department store chain has begun a consultation on redundancies, proposing to close bureau de change services in 30 stores and specialist gift wrapping in 25 stores. No final decision has been made, but closures would take place this autumn. A staff member told the Guardian that shop floor workers are already overworked and short staffed, and that the call centre has been unable to handle customer queries. John Lewis rejected the criticism, citing improved customer satisfaction and staff satisfaction scores. The company said customers increasingly buy currency online, and that the desks would be repurposed for other uses. This follows 3,300 job cuts last year across the John Lewis Partnership, which also runs Waitrose.
What’s reported
John Lewis has put 200 jobs at risk by proposing to close gift wrapping and foreign exchange desks.
The chain has 36 stores; closures would affect bureau de change in 30 stores and gift wrapping in 25 stores.
A consultation on redundancies has begun; no final decision has been taken.
If confirmed, closures will take place this autumn.
John Lewis came second in the UK Customer Satisfaction Index, behind Nationwide.
A staff member said shop floor workers are “already overworked, overwhelmed with responsibilities and short staffed.”
A John Lewis spokesperson said customer satisfaction and loyalty scores improved year on year, as did staff satisfaction.
Customers will still be able to order currency online for home delivery or store pickup.
Last year the parent group cut 3,300 jobs, reducing total staff to 65,700.
In March 2026, workers received a bonus equivalent to 2% of salary for the first time in four years.
Key figures
John Lewis (department store chain)
John Lewis Partnership (parent group, also runs Waitrose)
A staff member (anonymous, quoted by the Guardian)
A spokesperson for John Lewis (unnamed)
Sources: The Guardian
