Heatwave boosts first-half sales at Next

Enderby retail giant Next’s online business has powered it to a 4.5% revenue growth in its first half results, it said this morning (1 August).

The company’s high street stores continued to struggle with a 5.3% drop in sales, but that was offset by a 15.5% rise in its online business.

Next says its second quarter results were ahead of expectations, driven by good weather.

A statement from the firm, said: “We believe that this over-achievement in sales was due to the prolonged period of exceptionally warm weather, which greatly assisted the sales of summer weight product. It is almost certain that some of these sales have been pulled forward from August, so we are maintaining our sales and profit guidance for the year to January 2019.”