Next

Next is one of the UK’s largest retailers with a domestic market share of around 10%, selling clothing, shoes, accessories and homeware. Originally founded in 1864 as menswear tailor Joseph Hepworth & Son, it eventually evolved into Next in 1982 after the purchase of womenswear retailer Kendall and Sons in 1981. Its ecommerce website also acts as a marketplace platform for brands such as Calvin Klein, Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse and Ralph Lauren. The retailer bought Lipsy in 2008 to appeal to a younger audience. Next has taken big steps to integrate its online and offline proposition, using stores to drive click and collect, including one-hour in-store pick-up, and process ecommerce returns. Next has also partnered with Amazon to allow customers to pick up parcels from its stores – driving footfall and incremental spend. The retailer operates around 500 stores domestically and around 200 in 32 other countries.