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LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) - British clothing retailer Next
will reopen its online business having implemented
additional safety measures to cope with the coronavirus
emergency, it said on Tuesday.
The online operation, which provides over half of Next's
revenue, has been closed since March 26. The retailer's stores
were shut on March 23, a day before Britain went into
lockdown.
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," it said.
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.
Shares in Next, down 34% so far in 2020, closed Friday at
4,624 pence, valuing the business at 6.1 billion pounds ($7.65
billion).
($1 = 0.7971 pounds)
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Kate Holton and Sarah
Young)