Joules’ relaunch puts jobs under threat
The highly-anticipated relaunch of Leicestershire lifestyle brand Joules has been brought forward – but further jobs could be lost at the firm as a result of the transition to a new digital platform.
Joules was sold to high street retail giant Next for around £34m in December last year following its high-profile collapse into administration. The deal saved around 1,400 jobs and 100 of Joules’ 124 outlets in the UK and Ireland, while 19 stores were closed with immediate effect and 133 people were made redundant.
Joules was due to relaunch in March 2024, reaping the benefits of Next’s TOTAL PLATFORM – “a complete suite of online services” the Leicester firm offers to third-party brands which encompasses website, warehousing, distribution, contact centre, online advertising and retail services.
That date has been brought forward to October 2023, but following Next’s decision to provide what it has described as “much broader” services to Joules, cost savings will now be “significantly greater than originally anticipated.”
Additional services provided by Next will include stock management, finance, payment, accounting and HR systems.
As a result, Next said, “a number of tasks performed by Joules personnel will be absorbed into NEXT teams or no longer be needed.”
Joules is currently consulting with staff over the plans.
In a statement, Next added: “Where roles are no longer required, NEXT will be working with those affected to ensure that they are considered for any suitable vacancies at NEXT, whose head office is located close to Joules’ headquarters in Market Harborough. It is anticipated that those remaining with Joules (i.e. the Senior management, Product and Marketing teams) will continue to work from Joules’ existing offices.”
It is unclear precisely how many roles will be affected by the move.
