Next targets China, Russia and Japan

International online sales at apparel and homewares retailer/cataloguer Next rocketed during the first-half of the year, “much faster than anticipated”, said Next’s chief executive Lord Wolfson in a statement. He now expects full-year online sales outside the UK to reach £32 million ($49 million), up from £10 million last year.

Sales were particularly strong in Germany, USA, Ireland, Australia and Poland. Next now plans to set up online stores for Russia, China and Japan within the next six months, fulfilling all orders from the UK. Even more important than launching more sites in their native language and local currency, says Lord Wolfson, is improving international delivery times. Next has set out a timetable for improving its delivery promise. For example, Next currently offers free delivery to Australia with a timeframe of seven to 10 days. Within a year, Next says it will delivery to Australia in just four days.

Overall, Next reported sales of £1.57 billion in the first half of the year—a rise of 3.6 percent on the same period in 2010. Pretax profits were up 8.5 percent to £228 million in the six months ended July 2011. Sales in Next’s online and mail order arm Next Directory were up 15.1 percent to £486.7 million, with profit up 11.3 percent to £112.8 million.