Next reopens warehouses for online ordering with "additional safety measures"

A UK fashion retailer has announced that it will be reopening its warehouses and online distribution channels today after nearly three weeks.

Next, which also offers homeware, closed its online business on 26 March following feedback from its employees.

The company will resume online operations from today in a “very limited way”, with only categories such as a childrenswear and home items available.

It will also have a limit on the amount customers can order in a day, with the website being switched to a ‘browse only’ option when orders reach a safety maximum.

The limits are in place to allow operations in the warehouses to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Next said: “Operations will start with support from colleagues 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, Next will only allow customers to order the number of items that it believes can be picked safely on any given day.

“At that point we will then stop taking orders and convert the website to ‘browse only’ until the following morning.”