John Lewis will back up the 55JL9000 with new models in 2015
Following the recent introduction of the John Lewis 55JL9000, a 55-inch webOS TV with an inbuilt soundbar, the retailer has said it will launch further own-brand televisions next year.
Speaking with TrustedReviews, John Lewis has confirmed it will reignite its partnership with Korean manufacturer LG to expand its line of premium own-brand TVs, targeting a wider range of price points and features in 2015.
“We are delighted with the response we’ve had on the whole,” Johnathan Marsh, Head of Buying for Electricals and Home Technology at John Lewis, said while discussing the 55JL9000.
Looking to what the future holds he added: “TV is a new venture which we are obviously working with LG on and we are excited to launch more products with them next year as we develop and broaden that proposition.”
Implying that it could launch more than one new TV over the coming 12 months, the premium seller suggested that audio will remain a key focus of its TV propositions – although in exactly what guise remains unclear.
“Sound is definitely something we want to focus on and ensure that any product we do bring to market ticks all those boxes and won’t disappoint the consumer on any one feature,” Marsh said
“That is still very much in our planning. Whether that manifests through a soundbar or whether that manifests through better, deeper speakers, I don’t know yet, that’s something that we’re working on.”
Although the company praised the impact its first TV’s inbuilt soundbar allowed it to have on the AV market, Marsh suggested that price as much as function could be a target for its second-generation range of own-brand TVs.
“We don’t want it to be expensive – far from it – but what we want to do is add something that someone else is not providing in the market,” he told us.
He added: “At the moment we are at that premium end and I am looking to issue something at a more accessible price point next year.
“We will look to grow the volumes and grown the number of customers who can experience that product.”
So, it appears John Lewis could par it existing high-end model with a least one more affordable own-brand TV in 2015, would you be tempted or are you resigned to sticking with the TV market’s ‘big players’ – Sony, Samsung and LG? Let us know via the comments section below.
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