John Lewis (London)

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John Lewis Department Store run by partners (not employees).

The business was founded in 1864 when John Lewis set up a draper's shop in Oxford Street, London, which developed into a department store. In 1905 he bought the Peter Jones store in Sloane Square. In 1920 his son, John Spedan Lewis, expanded earlier power-sharing policies by sharing the profits the business made among the employees. The democratic nature and profit-sharing basis of the business were developed into a formal partnership structure and Spedan Lewis bequeathed the company to his employees. In January 2006, over 64,000 partners worked for the John Lewis Partnership, whereof the majority worked full-time.

The principle and slogan Never knowingly undersold was adopted in 1925. It was created by Spedan Lewis and applied to the company's Peter Jones store in Sloane Square, London. It stated that if a customer could buy the same item cheaper elsewhere they would refund the difference. Today, the company still honours this pledge, and many of their competitors also offer such a pledge. The principle has been more refined, most notably to exclude online shopping. However, they are the only large retailer that will match the price with any UK shop, not restricting it to a local area. The policy is also to monitor local competitors and reduce the shelf edge price if they are being 'undersold'. Staff (partners) also get paid £2 for every time they notify the company that they are being 'undersold'.

The present shop on Oxford Street was completed in 1960, the original buildings having been bombed during the war and gradually rebuilt. The sculpture Winged Figure by Barbara Hepworth was added in 1962.