John Lewis Ladybird, Oxford Street 1962

The Pasold family trying to grow its Ladybird brand,  approached John Lewis about opening a Ladybird specific shop. In the early 1960’s Ladybird had pushed hard to try and take over the whole of the children’s-wear department at John Lewis, but had been refused. Nevertheless, Ladybird secured Partnership interest in an independent Ladybird shop.  John Lewis Ladybird opened in 1962, on the Oxford Street front of the old East Island.

‘The John Lewis Ladybird Shop will…always have in stock, every size of every colour of every garment in the Ladybird range’.

This was quite some claim. But the strength of the shop spoke for itself. Bright bold colours abounded. Specially created displays and fittings enchanted children and enticed parents into purchases. Children were particularly taken with Ladybird House, visible in the picture below at the far end of the room. Ladybird House was a child-size cottage with its own window display of child-size clothes.