Bed-buyers welcome to have a sleepover at John Lewis

TRYING out a mattress normally involves an awkward lie-down inside the shop – but John Lewis is taking the experience to a whole new level.

The chain is planning to open furnished apartments at major branches this autumn where shoppers can stay the night to test out products. Its plans were revealed by new managing director, Paula Nickolds, the first female boss in its 1 3year history, who said: ‘We are not just selling you a mattress, we are selling you a perfect night’s sleep.’

The Residence, as the apartments will be known, will launch in Oxford Street, London, Liverpool and Cambridge.

In a bid to attract ‘generation rent’ John Lewis also plans to increase online sales and sell furniture that can double up, such as kitchen tables that turn into desks.

And it is working with London’s Victoria and Albert Museum to produce high-end designer goods. Mrs Nickolds, 44, took over the top job in January having started 22 years earlier as a graduate trainee.

Discussing the so-called death of the High Street, she told The Times that the scale of change is ‘dramatic’ but added: ‘It’s been talked about every five years since I started in retail.’