Next plc is a United Kingdom-based retailer offering products in clothing, footwear, accessories and home products. Next distributes through three main channels: Next Retail, a chain of more than 500 stores in the United Kingdom and Eire; the Next Directory, a direct mail catalogue and transactional Website with more than two million active customers, and Next International, with more than 150 stores overseas. Its other businesses include Next Sourcing, which designs, sources and buys Next branded products; Ventura, which provides customer services management to clients wishing to outsource their customer contact administration and fulfillment activities, and Lipsy, which designs and sells its own branded younger women’s fashion products through wholesale, retail and Internet channels. Other Activities also includes profits from its Property Management Division, and its associated companies, Choice and Cotton Traders. On September 29, 2008, the Company acquired 100% of Lipsy Limited.