Next will reopen its online business has implemented additional safety measures to cope with the coronavirus emergency. The website of the fashion store had stopped taking orders on 26 March and closed its High Street stores on 23 March.
The British clothing retailer has reopened online on Tuesday after Next said it had strengthened social distancing measures at its warehouses. Under government guidelines, online businesses are allowed to remain open.
“Next has since implemented very extensive additional safety measures and having consulted with colleagues and our recognised union, USDAW, it will re-open online in a very limited way from today,” the retailer said.
Initially, only categories that customers most need will be offered, such as childrenswear and selected small home items. Other product ranges may be added at a later date.
Next said operations will start with support from staff who are willing and able to safely return to work. “The idea is to begin selling in low volumes, so that we only need a small number of colleagues in each warehouse at any one time, helping to ensure rigorous social distancing is complied with.”
To achieve these limited volumes, the company will only allow customers to order the number of items that it believes can be picked safely on any given day. At that point, Next will then stop taking orders and convert the website to “browse-only” until the following morning.
Reuters
