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Next stops online shopping amid worker concern

The retailer issued stark forecasts at results earlier this month
March 27, 2020

Next (NXT) is no longer taking online orders, having temporarily shuttered its online, warehousing and distribution operations yesterday evening. The company took the decision having listened to coronavirus concerns from its workers. “It is clear that many increasingly feel they should be at home in the current climate,” according to a statement from Next.

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Next management envisaged a drop-off in online sales during the pandemic. The company modelled three scenarios in its full-year results released earlier this month, which predicted lost sales of more than £1bn under its most severe outlook. It is unclear whether the cease of online sales factored into these estimates. 

In its year to 25 January, online sales of £2.15bn made up 50 per cent of the company’s overall sales and represented its largest sales source, overshadowing retail and Next’s smaller finance segment, which contributed sales of £268.7m.