Asos unveils launch date for Topshop partnership

Following the launch of Topman on the online fashion platform in June, the womenswear brand will also be available to buy from September 30.

The partnership – if successful – will bring a welcome boost in sales following two profit warnings in the last seven months. The fashion market leader blamed the change in guidance on “operational issues” in its US and European warehouses.

Asos reported a 28% increase in profit before tax to £102m for the year to August 31, 2018. However, profit expectations for this financial year were initially expected to be £55m. In July, expectations were downgraded again to between £30m and £35m.

It was also announced earlier this month around 500 Topshop and Topman lines would be sold on Shop Direct’s Very and Littlewoods platforms for the first time – expanding to 2,000 lines later in the year.

The ranges will also include 200 Topshop beauty lines making it the first retailer to offer its beauty products outside of the Arcadia group.

Shop Direct managing director Sam Perkins said: “Topshop and Topman are two of the biggest fashion brands out there. We know our customers will love this new partnership, which builds on our long-term, successful relationship with the Arcadia group.

“We believe it’ll attract even more customers to Very and Littlewoods – giving them access to a range of different ways to pay – and open up the Topshop and Topman brands to a whole new group of customers.”

Topshop owner Sir Philip Green ploughed £135m of investment into Arcadia as part of a turnaround plan back in May to save his struggling high street brands, which include Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins.

As part of the plan, Green proposed to shut 23 stores in the UK and Ireland and cut rents on more.