Published
Apr 25, 2023
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Next's Joules relaunch to come faster than expected

Published
Apr 25, 2023

Jobs are set to go at Joules as the business is relaunched by new owner Next. And that relaunch will happen sooner than expected, it emerged on Tuesday.


Joules



Next said that its tech teams “teams have made significant progress in reducing the lead times for the delivery of Total Platform (TP)” and as a result “we now believe Joules can launch its TP site much earlier than expected”.

That means an October launch rather than a debut in March next year as had been proposed.

And it added that the scope of its TP launch for Joules will be “significantly wider” than the website, warehousing, distribution, contact centre, online advertising and retail services that comprise the regular TP offer.  

In addition to those existing services, Joules will use other Next systems, including product systems that take in stock planning, budgeting, contract management, progressing, imports and inbound administration. “This will enable them to take advantage of the group's inbound freight and duty arrangements,” we’re told.

Joules will also use its parent’s finance, payments and accounting systems, as well as HR, with Next saying it will “provide all these services to Joules on a cost-plus basis”.

But this doesn’t mean Joules is being subsumed into Next, even thought the latter now owns 74% of the business. Instead, it “will remain an independent company with its own board and management team. However the team, led by founder Tom Joule, will be entirely focused on product, marketing and brand development”. 

The functions that will continue to be wholly managed by the Joules teams include design, buying, garment-technology and merchandising; brand marketing, styling of photography, branding, social media and PR, shows and events; website content and look-and-feel; and wholesale and sales through third parties.

Next added that the cost savings it expected from transitioning Joules to TP will be “significantly greater than originally anticipated”.

But of course, the negative impact on people currently working for Joules can’t be ignored. The new owner said “a number of tasks performed by Joules personnel will be absorbed into Next teams or no longer be needed”.  

Joules is now “consulting with colleagues to let them know how they will be affected. 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”. It’s convenient on this front that the two firms’ head offices ate close to each other. 

Those remaining with Joules — the senior management, product and marketing teams — will continue to work from Joules' existing offices.

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