Background

The launch of the NEXT retail chain in February 1982 had a major influence on High Streets throughout the UK, shaping the future of fashion retailing. The continued success of NEXT's unique and innovative shopping concept has provided the company with an outstanding record of achievement in a comparatively short period of time.

The first store opened with an exclusive co-ordinated collection of stylish clothes, shoes and accessories for women. Collections for men, children and the home quickly followed. NEXT clothes are styled by the in-house design team to offer consistency of style, quality and value for money with a contemporary fashion edge.

Today NEXT trades from over 460 stores in the UK and Eire and over 100 franchise stores overseas. Over the last few years several larger format stores have opened across the UK and, in October 2005, NEXT opened the anchor store at the Manchester Arndale Centre with a store in excess of 80,000 square feet.

The ground-breaking mail order operation NEXT Directory launched in 1988 with a hardback book containing 350 pages, creating the blueprint for catalogue retailing. There are over 1300 pages in the current NEXT Directory offering extensive collections for men, women, children and everything for the well dressed home. Online shopping was introduced in 1999 and the entire book is available to shop from on the internet, page by page - another first in Home Shopping in the UK.

NEXT continues to improve customer service introducing new initiatives such as next day delivery as standard for NEXT Directory orders placed before 5pm. Customers may collect or return unwanted items at any of 460 stores nationwide should this be more convenient and a new in-house delivery service has been set up to deliver large Home items with the ability to deliver at weekends. As well as ordering on-line, customers are able to check their accounts and make payments this way.

Chronology

1864	J Hepworth & son, Gentleman's Tailors was established in Leeds.
1981	Hepworth bought the chain of Kendalls rainwear shops to develop a Womenswear group of shops called NEXT.
1982	The first NEXT womenswear store was opened on 12th February. There were 70 shops by the end of July.
1984	Launch of NEXT for Men in August. By December there were 52 shops. The first mini department store in Edinburgh opened incorporating womenswear, menswear, shoes and a café.
1985	Launch of NEXT Interiors range of soft furnishings for the home in August. First department store with womenswear, menswear and interiors opened in Regent Street, London.
1986	Parent company, J Hepworth & Son changed its name to NEXT plc. Acquisition of Grattan plc (mail order company).
1987	Launch of NEXT childrenswear.
1988	Launch of NEXT Directory in January. David Jones appointed Chief Executive of NEXT plc.
1990	Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale became Chairman of NEXT plc.
1991	Sale of Grattan to Otto Versand.
1993	NEXT announces brand strategy of 'One Brand Two Ways of Shopping', bringing together the common ranges across both retail and home shopping formats.
1994	NEXT now trading from 300 stores in 16 countries worldwide.
1995	Successful relaunch of NEXT for the Home.
1998	Sir Brian Pitman appointed as Chairman.
1999	Launch of shopping on the internet from the NEXT Directory at www.next.co.uk.
2000	Next day delivery introduced as standard for orders placed before 5pm with the NEXT Directory.
2001	Several new larger stores opened. Launch of www.nextflowers.co.uk. Simon Wolfson appointed Chief Executive.
2002	Internet speed disk introduced in March. David Jones appointed Chairman.
2003	NEXT opens new larger format stores in Nottingham, Birmingham, Dudley and Newcastle Gateshead together with a large Home store at Glasgow Braehead.
2004	NEXT opens first Scandinavian store in Denmark offering menswear, womenswear and childrenswear.
2005	NEXT Home launches Wedding List Service.
2006	John Barton appointed Chairman. Launch of www.nextelectric.co.uk.
2007	NEXT celebrates 25 Years of fashion and style. Launch of www.nextdirectory.eu.
2008	NEXT Home now offers fitted kitchens and bathrooms.

Archive Collection

The Next archive contains original clothing and marketing material from the first collection in 1982 through to the present day. The collection is cared for by Leicestershire County Council Museums, Arts and Records Service and can be seen by appointment.

Displays and exhibitions in the Fashion Gallery at Snibston Discovery Park, Coalville, Leicestershire often feature garments from the collection; for further details of these or to make an appointment to view the archive, call Philip Warren, Keeper of Cultural Life on 0116 2645817 or get in contact via pwarren@leics.gov.uk