John Lewis has become synonymous with Christmas over recent years thanks to their memorable TV adverts which, if you’re an emotional fool like I am, can’t fail to produce a lump in the throat. However my association with the department store goes back many years. Straight out of University I joined the company on their Graduate Training Programme. I began my training in the Oxford Street branch in September 1985 (see, I told you, eons ago) and, after a couple of years, moved to John Lewis, Peterborough to manage the Stationery Department.
Part of my responsibility was the Christmas department which we had to open by the middle of September each year. I remember having to deal with the delivery of hundreds of boxes of crackers, trees and baubles galore. Days were spent decorating trees for the displays – they had to be themed and I liked them to be symmetrical and balanced. We also had to deal with numerous cantankerous customers who thought they were the only ones to complain that we were displaying Christmas goods so early. I do remember one customer who managed to pull off a complaint with panache. Glamorous and well-dressed, she walked confidently down the aisle until she came across me, on my knees, up to my eyes in tinsel. She removed the sunglasses from the top of her head, surveyed the scene before her and announced:
“Oh dear God, Christmas! And I’ve still got a tan!”
Just for the record, I continued working for the company for 11 years in total, my final position being Staff Trainer at Peterborough before leaving to have my son in 1996. I have very happy memories of a fun, supportive work environment and, of course, Peterborough is still my local John Lewis so I am always shopping there and I see lots of former colleagues while I’m visiting.
So, this is a roundabout way of saying you can imagine the wry smile that spread across my face when I was asked if I would like to review a selection of Christmas decorations from John Lewis. Absolutely yes! Little did they know they were asking an old hand.
I was sent a 6′ Woodland Christmas tree, some white popsicle lights and a selection of decorations from the ‘cambric and cream’ collection. They arrived yesterday and a surprisingly excited 17 year old son immediately took charge of the whole decorating process, unaware his mother was hyperventilating, concerned that he ‘might not do it right’. I needn’t have worried. He has obviously absorbed this talent by some process of osmosis coupled with his father’s borderline OCD.
The tree is a doddle to erect. A base, three interlocking parts of trunk and the branches flop down from their hinges. It has a contemporary look, quite minimalistic yet rustic at the same time. Its neatness and the fact that it isn’t overly wide, makes it ideal for smaller rooms.
The lights, which can be used indoor or outdoor, are very appealing round balls of pale white, like a small gobstopper, very different from the usual pin-lights I have used before. They have LED bulbs so use 75% less energy than normal ones.
The decorations are, quite simply, adorable and, I have to say, brought a tear to my eye (I did tell you I was a soppy old thing). The reason being, a few years ago our treasured box of tree decorations was irreversibly damaged when a family of mice decided to nest in it while it was being stored in the garage. Baubles and ornaments I had bought during my time at John Lewis, were soiled, along with decorations Rory had made for me when he was little: a toilet-roll/cotton wool snowman, paper lanterns, pom-pom baubles. We had to burn the lot. We did replace some of them but mainly with plain red and gold baubles to fill the space on the tree. However the fabric decorations I was sent yesterday are just perfect: teddies, dogs, cats, robins and hearts, plus a delightful Christmas banner. I can see them becoming family Christmas heirlooms in the future.
The strapline for John Lewis’ ‘The Hare and The Bear’ advert is ‘Give someone a Christmas they’ll never forget’.
I think someone just has.
Wow, that was a significant freebie there (having just popped onto the site and see the prices). Nice one!!
The deccies are indeed very lovely and whimsical. I can imagine them being brought out lovingly year after year, and as a replacement for beloved but ruined decorations, you couldn't really hit a better spot.
Good ol' John Lewis!
Indeed! Makes up for all ruined decs…and for spending a ton of money in JL over the years!
Of course, the marketing company who sent me the items had no idea about my former link with the company nor the mice poop problem – it must have been fate….or one of Santa's elves? 😉
OOOH I love JL, we ( mr auntiegwen & I) had our photos taken with Bear and Hare, with no shame despite a combined age of 80 🙂 What a fab freebie
I love that you had your photo taken with Bear and hare – you big softies!
Oh you lucky duck!What tremendously lovely decs and all for free. Sorry about your other decs but now you've got a whole new bunch to keep forever. I've still got the loo roll snowman but I don't think he'll last another two decades! The haberdashery department in JL, Edinburgh is a bit like being in an episode of 'Are You Being Served' sometimes! Great to 'see' you, Trish. x
A real treat. I was surprised to be asked but very excited.
It was fascinating to work for the company – some great characters in the stores who have been there for years.
Oh, I love JL London, makes me feel like anything can be fixed and they've got the stuff to do it. now I'm off to see if I can find The Hare and The Bear on youtube. Or google. Or somewhere,
You should google all of them and have a good cry. I think my favourites were the snowman and woman last year and I think, the year before, it was a little boy getting excited for Christmas. The choice of music is crucial. They get it spot on.
How cool that you worked for them. Love both those stores…I have always wondered what you did BK (before Kids) in what my kids call the olden days.
Yes, in the olden days the company didn't accept credit cards, Oxford St store closed on a Saturday afternoon (despite customers banging on the doors to be let in) and they didn't advertise at all!!! And here they are now with the most famous adverts in the UK.
I can't watch the John Lewis Christmas advert without thinking of a joke that Eddie Murphy once used to tell. A bear and a rabbit are taking a shit in the woods. The bear turns to the rabbit and says, "hey, do you have trouble with shit sticking to your fur?" The rabbit replies that he doesn't; his fur has a special property that helps prevent shit from sticking to it. So the bear wipes his ass on the rabbit.
Trust you to lower the tone! How come we buy toilet paper with bears on the packaging – should be rabbits then.
John Lewis is the sort of store I can happily wander about in all day….and when I read that you were head of Stationery I almost gasped…how wonderful…I think stationery is a very feminine 'thing'…every girl loves it…..useful things/colourful things/things that bring order all in one pretty to look at place!
You make the most of Rory helping with the tree……you're making special memories.
I worked in some lovely departments over the years – ladies fashion, haberdashery, childrenswear and nursery furniture but yes, stationery was great plus it was linked to Books which I adored.
Rory loves helping with the decorations. I remember when he was little he was watching and helping as I did the tree. I told him he would do this with his family when he was a man with his own children. He looked at me, then at his dad watching the TV and said, 'No! I think I will let my wife do it. I'll watch the telly and drink beer'.
We don't have a John Lewis particularly close to us (so I have to shop online).
I bought some beautiful decorations last year and you have just reminded to look again!
xx
It's great browsing online to see what they have and what goes with what. I thought the decs were very good value. Prices are around £3 to £5 for most of them (the angel is £12) and are such good quality.
I am liking that tree! John Lewis really are lovely aren't they? x
Tree is great. Priced at £100 it's not cheap but it's well put together and I love the tree trunk and the base.
I haven't had any involvement with them before on the blogging front but my experiences as an employee (partner) and a shopper have always been very positive.
Oooh I LOVE decorations and the ones from John Lewis are just too lovely!
We did once think we would try to pick up decorations from our travels but only did it once, in Quebec!
What a great story – did you say anything to the lady in regards to her tan? -winter sun holiday madam?! lol.
1996 was a good year to have a baby too btw.
The tree and decs look lovely.
I think I just laughed – I was lost for words.
Aw you have a 96 baby too!
I absolutely love those decorations. Gingham deco is one of the only fashions that I've got into this season but I have to say they look so pretty! I think I may secretly be popping into Exeter's John Lewis to pick me up some of those if I have a chance!
I have to keep up with all the new John Lewis shops that have opened since my day. Have fun shopping!
Apart from the blinking mice, that is so lovely Trish, the decorations are gorgeous too! I had no idea you were a JL veteran… My Sister in law worked in the Kingston Branch for a few years and they sound like such a nice company to work for! 🙂
It was a very happy period of my life. Still meet up with old pals regularly and when I go shopping in Peterborough so many people still work there – a loyal team.
What a gorgeous tree! I love John Lewis and there is something so magical about it at Christmas time x
They do it well don't they. It's in a different league to what I experienced, I think the online business has made it a huge national company rather than a favourite store for specific towns.
Oh my goodness- you had my dream job!! I love, love those decorations and the bunting, oh my!! 🙂
Ha! It was indeed a great job. Good to go shopping in my lunch hour…with staff discount! Bunting! That's the word I was looking for. I said ' banner' but it's bunting. Thank you!
I am afraid for me it HAS to be a real tree despite the mess! I do love the decorations, very pretty and a nice replacement for the ones you lost (even though the ones Rory had made cannot be replaced). Like the link to John Lewis too! xx
I've had real trees but I do like my symmetrical fake ones. The main tree we have is big and bushy and I love it but great to have a little extra one.
They all look lovely. I'm a sucker for a pretty Christmas decoration!
Me too! Makes everyone cheerful 🙂
What a fantastic 'coincidence'! I totally agree that the decorations are gorgeous and how lovely to be able to see your old colleagues when you visit the store.
Happy Christmas to you xx
Some of the people I see now are staff I recruited when I worked in the personnel department. It's lovely to know that I must have made a good decision as they are still there, looking happy, some promoted etc.
Happy Christmas to you too, Mari xx
Those red and white fabric decorations are beautiful!
I was in John Lewis the other day, it feels like the right place to be at Christmas somehow!
Always very festive but classy with it.
I adore JL. I would happily do all my shopping in there and Waitrose for ever more for I am a confirmed (and unashamed) supermarket snob. A friend of mine has just left IBM after 31 years and gone to work in the baby dept of her local JL – she loves it!
Working in Oxford Street was amazing, just going to work each day and being able to browse at the same time. Once I moved to Peterborough, we had a Waitrose opposite the store, so I had the best of both worlds.
How lovely your friend is enjoying her big move!