Next has launched its new luxury online fashion platform called Seasons.
- Seasons features a range of premium brands including Ganni, Marc Jacobs, and Tory Burch.
- The platform aims to build long-term relationships with these brands and expand its luxury portfolio.
- Next has experienced a trend where customers purchase fewer but higher-quality items.
- Seasons plans to initially serve the UK market, with international expansion planned for 2025 or 2026.
Next has unveiled a new online platform, Seasons, designed to offer a selection of premium and luxury fashion brands. This launch follows Next’s successful acquisition of Reiss, in which it now holds a controlling interest of 74%. The introduction of Seasons aligns with Next’s strategic objective to enhance its third-party business, creating a digital space dedicated to high-end labels.
The platform’s strategy includes forming enduring partnerships with the brands it currently stocks while simultaneously seeking to expand its offerings. Brands featured on Seasons include renowned names such as Ganni, Marc Jacobs, and Tory Burch. Next is targeting not only an expanded brand portfolio but also aspires to attract a subsequent tier of luxury brands to its roster.
In a statement, Lord Wolfson, a key executive at Next, acknowledged a noticeable consumer shift towards purchasing fewer items of superior quality within their price range. He stated, “We’re definitely seeing more traction at the mid and higher end of our price architecture, than the base. That’s people buying fewer higher quality things.” This consumer trend is pivotal in shaping Next’s initiative to provide its 8 million customers with enhanced services, featuring brands that resonate with their evolving preferences.
Though currently limited to the UK, the Seasons platform has international ambitions. Next plans to introduce Seasons to global audiences by the end of 2025 or early 2026, reflecting a broader vision to cater to an international luxury market.
The strategic expansion into premium online retail not only seeks to capitalise on existing customer interests but also aims to elevate Next’s position in the luxury fashion sector.
The launch of Seasons marks a significant step in Next’s strategy to enhance its luxury segment while adapting to changing consumer behaviours.
