John Lewis launches smart home department

The Internet of Things is wildly popular among consumers. UK department store chain John Lewis has now launched a new smart home department to showcase all kinds of gadgets that should make the consumer’s life at home more convenient.

John Lewis launched a 93 square meter department dedicated to gadgets, such as an oven that can be turned on from the office or a bedside device that measures the quality of sleep. According to the department store chain, it’s the largest fixed retail offering dedicated to smart home technology in the UK.

More people want smart home products
John Lewis decided to open the new department after an 81 percent increase in sales of smart home products in the past year at the British store. Also, 18 times more people searched its website for smart home products in 2015, compared to the previous year.

“We are seeking to demystify the latest smartest technology for our customers”, says Johnathan Marsh, Buying Director for Electricals and Home Technology at John Lewis. “In-store experiences are now key as we’ve seen customer demand for physical experiences before committing to purchase increase. To help customers understand which smart technology is for them, our partners have received extensive training to provide added value.”

The smart home department consists of four interactive zones: ‘kitchen’, ‘entertainment’, ‘sleep’ and ‘home monitoring’. Among the products displayed by John Lewis are the Samsung Family Hub Smart Fridge, Philips Hue lighting, Sonos PLAY:5, Nest Protect and a AEG smart oven.