The NEXT retail chain launched in 1982 and ever since has been a major influence on shaping the future of
fashion retailing.
NEXT Directory, the ground-breaking mail order operation,
launched in 1988 with a hardback book containing 350 pages, creating the blueprint for catalogue retailing. There are over
1100 pages in the Spring/Summer 2007 book offering extensive collections for women, men, children and everything for the
home.
Online shopping was launched in 1999 and the entire catalogue is available to shop from on the internet,
page by page - another first in Home Shopping in the UK.
The History of NEXT and the NEXT DIRECTORY 2000-
- 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.
What was happening in the UK in the early 2000's?
Billions of people around the world welcomed in the New Millennium with some of the most spectacular celebrations
ever seen. The first people to witness the dawn of the new era were Pacific Islanders - among the last were the Americans.
And fears that the dreaded Millennium Bug would cause computer meltdown around the world failed to materialise to the relief
of those who have invested billions in trying to avert a potential crisis.
The first British women to walk across Antarctica to the South Pole arrived safely, more than two months after
starting their record-breaking journey. Catherine Hartley said she was "absolutely elated" to have completed the trek,
which saw her nine-strong group cover 680 miles (1,094 km) while withstanding temperatures as low as -48C.
The latest story about boy wizard Harry Potter broke all publishing records. The fourth instalment of JK Rowling's
series was released simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic with an initial print-run of 5.3m - 1.5m in the UK
and 3.8m in the US. In Britain the usual run for children's books is 20,000.
British athlete Kelly Holmes secured a place in Olympic history by winning the 1500m gold in Athens.
The runner won the 800m on Monday and was the first Briton in 84 years to achieve the Olympic middle-distance double.
Holmes set a new British record for the race with a time of 3 minutes 57.90 seconds, finishing three metres ahead of
Russian rival Tatyana Tomashova.
Massive sea surges triggered by an earthquake under the Indian Ocean killed over 225,000 people in southern
Asia. An 8.9 magnitude earthquake under the sea near Aceh, north Indonesia, at 0759 local
time (0059 GMT) generated the biggest tsunami the world has seen for at least 40 years.
The average price of a house in the early 2000's was £170,000. Our favourite TV shows were Little Britain, Footballers
Wives, Wife Swap and The Royale Family as well as established soaps such as The Bill and Eastenders. At the Cinema
you may have watched Love Actually or the Lord of the Rings trilogy and you probably sang along to Robbie Williams singing
'She's the One' or Pink with 'Get the party started'.
Fashion in the early 2000's
Low rise jeans had become very popular which led on to 'boy shorts' and low rise knickers taking over from thongs at last!
Trouser suits were popular as were bold abstract prints. Skirts could be short or long and trousers narrow 'skinny' jeans or with wider
legs
. There were lots of asymetric tops to choose from and kaftan style tunics
The NEXT DIRECTORY range included petite and maternity collections and branded lingerie. Wider fit boots and shoes were introduced
and a separate Christmas catalogue produced, full of glamour and glitz party wear, toys and gadgets
Go to the
Next Directory page
at catalogue-connection.co.uk to check out the latest offers and delivery and returns information regarding
the Next Directory catalogue website and this site also reviews all the home shopping mail order catalogue
websites available in the UK. You can also check out the
plus size shopping range available
at Next Directory fro
plusisze-shopping.co.uk.
