UK COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND COMPUTING
PARK ROYAL CAMPUS
MODULE: BUSINESS SKILLS FOR E-COMMERCE
LECTURER: SUNETH FERNANDO/RAJ
STUDENT NAME A.KAHIN
STUDENT ID: 9867

TASK1

P1.1Company History :( NEXT PLC)
The company was founded by Joseph Hepworth in Leeds in 1864 as a tailor under the name of Joseph Hepworth & Son.[7]
In 1982 Hepworth & Son acquired Kendall & Sons Ltd, a Leicester-based rainwear and ladies Fashion Company from Combined English Stores. The intention was to redevelop the Kendall's stores as women swear chain of shops. Terence Conran, the designer, was Chairman of Hepworth's at this time and he recruited George Davies, who went on to become Chief Executive of Next.
The first Next shops opened on 12 February 1982, with the Kendall's conversion complete by the end of 1983Made chief executive in 1984, Davies then converted the 50 Hepworth stores to the Next format, extending the total concept look at the same time to cover menswear. This allowed the development mini department across the entire footprint, selling women's and men's and clothes. This was added to by the introduction of Next interiors to stores which were deemed in the "right demographical areas." In 1986, Davies moved the group’s headquarters from Leeds to Leicester, to be closer to the main garment manufacturers, and the company name was changed to Next plc.[7]
In 1987, the group acquired Combined English Stores and the Grattan catalogue company. Extending first to introduce Next children swear, Davies then introduced the Next Directory.[8][9]
By 1988, "after seven years of growth, Next had over- expanded suicidal" .. "Some stores were not bringing in enough to pay the rent."[10] Davies was sacked and the share price fell to 7p.[10] Chairman Sir David Jones accused him of being egotistical and taking Next to the verge of bankruptcy.

1. Reference:
2. "Next history". Nextplc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
3. Jump up^ Alexander, Hilary (15 May 2009)."Woodstock theme for 21st Anniversary of Next Directory". The Daily Telegraph (London).

Next plc aims and objective:

Challenges in relation to its social, ethical and environmental impacts. To be able to focus our efforts, we assess and prioritise each issue internally, as for Next, corporate
Responsibility means addressing each of these key business-related factors that can impact on our business, either directly or indirectly through our global suppliers.
As a consequence we have to manage a continually evolving set of issues.
This report aims to cover the issues we believe are of principal concern to our various stakeholders, and is structured around the main areas of responsibility identified by the business as being most material.
• Our Suppliers - we work for positive social, ethical and environmental improvements in our supply chain
• Our Customers and Products - we work to ensure we meet or exceed our customers’ expectations though the delivery of excellent products and service
• Our People - we work to provide an environment where our employees are supported and respected, treated fairly and taken care of, listened to and are motivated to achieve their full potential
• Environment - we work to actively reduce the impacts of our business on the natural environment www.ukessays.com/essays/economics/business-strategies-and-objectives-of-next-economics-essay.php#ixzz3F4Bgnf53

Next Plc aims

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NEXT PLC OBJECTIVES

CORE BUSINESS FACTIONS NEXT PLC

As a consequence, UK apparel retailers have historically faced a dual challenge: Firstly, how to create product development, marketing and distribution strategies aligning their products and brands with dynamic consumer preferences and perceptions; and secondly how to synchronize corporate assets and competence to create infrastructures for the execution of those strategies in pursuit of commercial growth. Against this background, this paper identifies the core competences required of participants within the