Next suspends website hours after reopening

Next has suspended sales on its website hours after reopening for limited online sales following improved employee safety measures.

The fashion and homewares retailer announced on Tuesday it would revive its website for in-demand items such as childrenswear and some small household products. It said when items ordered reached a level that warehouse workers could pick safely the site would would be "browse only" until the next morning.

By 11:00 BST on Tuesday orders were blocked with the message: "No more orders today. We're opening again tomorrow."

Next closed its online, warehouse and distribution operations on 26 March after employees said they did not feel safe working at close quarters during the Covid-19 crisis. It had initially intended to keep its online operation open after the government tightened lockdown measures to include most shops on 23 March.

The company said its limited opening plan would require a small number of employees in warehouses, allowing them to practise distancing measures.

Closing the site to sales on Tuesday, Next said: "We have successfully tested opening and taking a limited number of orders today. Please come back again tomorrow morning … We’re sorry about this, and hope that you’ll understand!"

The FTSE 100 company said it had consulted employees and the Usdaw trade union and introduced "very extensive" extra safety measures before the limited reopening. Next said operations would start with support from workers who are willing and able to return to work safely.

"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," Next said.