NEXT is a British multinational clothing, footwear, and home products retailer with a history dating back to the 1980s. The company is known for its stylish and affordable products, which have made it a popular destination for shoppers across the UK and beyond. With a strong online presence and over 500 physical stores across the country, NEXT has established itself as a major player in the UK retail market. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the interesting facts about NEXT that you may not know.
NEXT was founded in 1982 by British businessman George Davies.
1 A British businessman with a background in the fashion industry. Davies had previously worked for retailers such as Littlewoods and Marks & Spencer before launching NEXT with a focus on providing affordable and stylish clothing for men, women, and children.
The company’s first store was opened in Leicester, UK, and it quickly grew in popularity thanks to its high-quality products and competitive prices. Since its founding, NEXT has become one of the UK’s largest clothing retailers, with a significant presence both online and through its network of physical stores.
The company’s first store was opened in Leicester, UK.
2 The store quickly gained popularity thanks to its focus on providing high-quality and stylish clothing at affordable prices, and the company soon began to expand its reach by opening additional stores across the UK.
Today, NEXT operates over 500 stores in the UK and has a significant online presence, making it one of the country’s largest and most popular clothing retailers.
NEXT launched its first mail-order catalog in 1988.
3 Which allowed customers to order clothes from the comfort of their own homes. This was a major milestone for the company, as it helped to increase its reach and expand its customer base beyond those who could physically visit its stores.
The catalog was a huge success, and NEXT continued to develop its mail-order business over the following years. In 1999, the company launched its first website, further expanding its online presence and allowing customers to shop for its products online. Today, NEXT is a major UK retailer with both physical stores and a strong online presence, selling a wide range of clothing, footwear, and home goods.
NEXT launched its online store in 1999.
4 Making it one of the earliest UK retailers to establish an online presence. The launch of its online store was a significant milestone for the company, as it allowed customers to browse and purchase its products from anywhere with an internet connection.
At the time, online shopping was still a relatively new concept, and many retailers were hesitant to embrace it. However, NEXT recognized the potential of the internet early on and invested in developing a user-friendly online store that would appeal to its customers.
Since the launch of its online store, NEXT has continued to expand its digital offerings and invest in new technologies to improve the online shopping experience. Today, its website is a key part of its business, offering a wide range of products and convenient online shopping features such as click-and-collect and home delivery.
NEXT is a major clothing retailer in the UK, with a strong presence both in physical stores and online.
5 As of March 2023, NEXT has around 500 stores in total, including both standalone stores and concessions within other retailers such as department stores. These stores are located not only in the UK, but also in other countries such as Ireland and the Middle East.
While NEXT’s store count may change over time due to openings and closures, it is important to note that the company’s success is not solely dependent on its physical stores. NEXT has also established a strong online presence, with its website and app being popular shopping destinations for customers across the UK and beyond.
NEXT has an international presence, with stores in several countries around the world.
6 As of March 2023, NEXT operates stores in over a dozen countries, including Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Middle East. It has also expanded its presence in other ways, such as through international franchises and partnerships with local retailers.
While NEXT’s international presence is not as extensive as some other global retailers, it has been successful in expanding its brand beyond the UK and has continued to explore new opportunities for growth in international markets.
NEXT is known for its affordable and stylish clothing and home products, with a focus on quality and value.
7 The company has a reputation for producing well-made, durable products that are both fashionable and functional, and its prices are generally considered to be competitive with other high-street retailers.
NEXT has also been recognized for its focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing. The company has made efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, use more sustainable materials, and ensure fair labor practices throughout its supply chain.
Overall, NEXT’s commitment to quality, affordability, and ethical practices has helped it to build a loyal customer base in the UK and beyond, and it continues to be a major player in the global retail industry.
NEXT operates several different brands in addition to its main NEXT brand, including Lipsy and Label/Mix.
8 Lipsy is a women’s fashion brand that was acquired by NEXT in 2008. It offers a range of clothing, footwear, and accessories, with a focus on party dresses and evening wear. Lipsy has a younger, more trend-focused aesthetic than the main NEXT brand, and has become popular with customers looking for fashionable and affordable clothing.
Label/Mix, on the other hand, is a more recent addition to NEXT’s portfolio, having been launched in 2017. It is a collaboration between NEXT and a group of independent designers, and offers a range of clothing and accessories that are designed to be mixed and matched to create individual looks. Label/Mix has a more premium feel than the main NEXT brand, with a focus on high-quality materials and unique design details.
Overall, NEXT’s range of brands allows it to cater to a diverse range of customers with different style preferences and budgets, and has helped the company to establish a strong position in the UK fashion retail market.
NEXT is committed to sustainability and has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact.
9 One of the company’s key sustainability initiatives is its commitment to using sustainable materials in its products. For example, NEXT has launched a range of clothing made from recycled materials, including plastic bottles and recycled polyester. The company also uses sustainable materials such as organic cotton and Tencel in some of its products.
In addition to using sustainable materials, NEXT has also taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint. The company has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, and has implemented a range of measures to achieve this, such as improving energy efficiency in its stores and warehouses, and transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Furthermore, NEXT has also launched initiatives to reduce waste, such as its clothes recycling program, which encourages customers to return unwanted clothes to be recycled into new products.
Overall, NEXT’s commitment to sustainability is an important part of its business strategy, and the company continues to explore new ways to reduce its environmental impact and promote more sustainable practices throughout its operations.
NEXT operates a customer loyalty program called “Next Unlimited” which offers a range of benefits for a small annual fee.
10 Customers who sign up for Next Unlimited pay an annual fee and receive free next-day delivery on all orders placed on the NEXT website or app. They also receive free standard delivery on orders placed in-store or via the NEXT directory, as well as early access to sales and other exclusive offers.
In addition to these delivery-related benefits, Next Unlimited members also have access to a range of other perks, such as free returns, discounts on VIP experiences, and other special promotions.
Next Unlimited has proven to be popular with NEXT customers, and has helped the company to build a loyal customer base. The program has also helped to differentiate NEXT from other high-street retailers, and has contributed to the company’s success in the highly competitive UK retail market.
NEXT operates a financial services division, NEXT Financial Services, which offers a range of credit and insurance products to customers.
11 The company’s credit products include the NEXT Credit Account, which allows customers to spread the cost of their purchases over time, as well as personal loans and financing options for larger purchases such as furniture or home appliances. NEXT Financial Services also offers insurance products such as home insurance, travel insurance, and pet insurance.
By offering these financial products, NEXT is able to provide customers with additional services and convenience, and has developed a loyal customer base for its financial offerings. However, it’s important to note that like any financial services company, there are potential risks and responsibilities involved in offering credit and insurance products to customers.
NEXT has a strong social media presence with millions of followers across various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12 On Facebook, NEXT has over 2 million followers and uses the platform to share updates on new products, sales, and promotions, as well as customer reviews and feedback. On Twitter, NEXT has over 600,000 followers and uses the platform for similar purposes, often engaging in conversations with customers and responding to queries and complaints.
Instagram is also an important platform for NEXT, with over 2.5 million followers. The company uses the platform to showcase its products in a visually appealing way, often featuring lifestyle imagery and influencer collaborations to promote its clothing and home collections.
In addition to these main platforms, NEXT also has a presence on other social media channels such as Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Overall, NEXT’s strong social media presence allows the company to connect with customers and promote its brand and products in an engaging and interactive way. The company’s social media strategy is an important part of its marketing efforts and has contributed to its success in the highly competitive UK retail market.
NEXT is known for its popular Christmas catalogs, which are eagerly awaited by customers each year and feature a range of festive products.
13 The NEXT Christmas catalogs typically include a wide range of products, including clothing, gifts, decorations, and homeware items. The catalogs are usually released in early November and are distributed to customers via mail, in-store, and online.
The Christmas catalogs have become a popular tradition among NEXT customers, who look forward to browsing the festive offerings and planning their holiday shopping. The catalogs also play an important role in NEXT’s holiday marketing strategy, helping to build excitement and drive sales during the busy holiday season.
Overall, the NEXT Christmas catalogs are a key part of the company’s brand identity and have contributed to its success as one of the UK’s leading retailers.
In 2020, NEXT acquired the online businesses of popular UK fashion brands Oasis, Warehouse, and Coast, as well as the brand name and intellectual property of the trio.
14 The acquisition of these brands allowed NEXT to expand its presence in the UK retail market, particularly in the women’s fashion segment. The acquisition also allowed NEXT to tap into the existing customer base and brand recognition of Oasis, Warehouse, and Coast, which were well-established brands with a loyal following.
Following the acquisition, NEXT integrated the brands into its existing online platform, making the products of these brands available to its customers. This move was seen as a strategic one, as it allowed NEXT to diversify its product range and appeal to a wider range of customers.
The acquisition of these brands was part of NEXT’s long-term growth strategy, which involves expanding its product range and strengthening its position as one of the UK’s leading retailers.
