Our history

1864

J Hepworth & Son, Gentleman’s Tailors is established in Leeds, England.

1981

Hepworth buys the chain of Kendalls rainwear shops to develop a womenswear group of stores called NEXT.

1982

The first NEXT womenswear store opens on 12th February.

There are 70 NEXT stores around the UK by the end of July.

1984

NEXT for Men launches in August. By December there are 52 menswear stores.

The first mini department store in Edinburgh opens incorporating womenswear, menswear, shoes and a café.

1985

Debut of NEXT’s first home interiors range.

First department store with womenswear, menswear and interiors opens in Regent Street, London.

1986

Parent company, J Hepworth & Son changes its name to NEXT plc.

The group acquires Grattan plc (mail order company).

1987

Launch of NEXT childrenswear.

1988

Launch of NEXT Directory – the brand’s innovative new concept in home shopping.

David Jones appointed Chief Executive of NEXT plc.

1991

Sale of Grattan to Otto Versand.

1993

NEXT announces its brand strategy of “One Brand; Two Ways of Shopping”, bringing together the common ranges across both retail and home shopping formats.

1994

NEXT’s 300th store opens. The brand is now trading in 16 countries worldwide.

1999

Launch of shopping on the internet from NEXT directory at www.next.co.uk. This extends NEXT’s business strategy to “One Brand; Three ways of shopping”.

2000

Next day delivery introduced as standard for orders placed before 5pm, with the NEXT Directory.

2001

Launch of NEXT Flowers.

Simon Wolfson appointed Chief Executive.

2003

NEXT opens new larger format stores in Nottingham, Birmingham, Dudley and Newcastle Gateshead together with a large Home store at Glasgow Braehead.

2005

NEXT Home launches its Wedding List Service.

2006

John Barton appointed Chairman.

2007

NEXT celebrates its 25 year jubilee. Launch of NEXT’s luxury Signature collection.

2008

NEXT acquires younger women’s fashion brand, Lipsy.

2009

NEXT extends its home shopping facility to the USA and over 30 other countries worldwide through Nextdirect.com.

NEXT named British High Street Retailer of the Year.

2010

NEXT confirmed as Official Clothing and Homeware Supplier to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

2011

Ventura, the Group’s customer service management business, is sold for £65m cash.

NEXT opens its first combined fashion, home & garden store at Shoreham-by-Sea.

2012

NEXT celebrates its 30 year jubilee.

2013

Jane Shields and Michael Law appointed to the board.

NEXT now trades online in more than 70 countries worldwide.

2014

2014 saw the opening of 2 large home and fashion stores which were built from the ground up in Hedgend and Maidstone.

2015

Amanda James appointed to the Board.

Next directory introduces order by midnight for delivery next day.

NEXT opened its 546th store

2017

Michael Roney appointed as Chairman.

2018

Richard Papp appointed to the board

Next Directory rebranded as Online

Finance business reported separately for the first time

2019

Acquired Fabled by Marie Claire

2020

First Total Platform client, Childsplay Clothing, launched. TP aims to leverage NEXT’s Online infrastructure and provide partners with a comprehensive solution to trading online.

Set up a joint venture to sell Victoria’s Secret and Pink products under licence in the UK and Eire.

2021

Acquired 25% of Reiss. From early 2022 Reiss’s websites and Online operations, both in the UK and overseas, will be contracted to NEXT through TP.

Agreed a joint venture to operate Gap’s e-commerce business across Total Platform, host Gap-branded Shop-in-Shops and offer click-and-collect options for online customers.

2022

Acquired the brand name, domain names and intellectual property of Made.com Design Ltd.

NEXT partners with Tom Joule to acquire Joules, a clothing company which sells clothing and homeware products inspired by British country lifestyle.

Acquired a further 26% of Reiss, taking NEXT’s shareholding in the fashion retail chain to 51%.