Responding quickly to emerging trends has been a key success factor for retailers such as Topshop, which has carved out a reputation for its ability to pre-empt the latest catwalk styles at affordable prices and with the shortest possible lead times.
The UK market for women’s clothing is forecast to grow by almost 10% between 2003 and 2008 to reach a value of nearly £12.8 billion.Tops will remain the largest sector contributing a value of £2.9 billion by the year 2008, accounting for almost 23% of value sector share (Source:
Euromonitor)
Achievements
Topshop has undergone a transformation since the mid
1990s, blossoming from a ‘cheap and cheerful’ store for the nation’s teenagers to a seriously cool, trendsetting brand.
It has become a high street retail phenomenon, enjoying a huge growth in sales and creating a distinctive personality with an individual brand mix. It continues to headline in nearly every fashion title and broadsheet, establishing a reputation for bringing innovation and style to the high street.
While many other retailers belatedly copy the latest look,Topshop frequently sets trends of its own.Topshop has received numerous accolades in recent years – fashion bible Vogue wrote:“Topshop has become the favourite label of the moment among the fashion pack and the entire staff of Vogue checks in almost daily for new deliveries”, while The Times declared: “it’s now a fashion faux-pas not to go there.”
Topshop has become a multi-award-winning brand, carrying off numerous industry gongs. Most recently, it won Customer Service Initiative of the Year for its new
Topshop To Go service at the Retail Week Awards 2005.
The past year has also seen it win awards from magazines including Company, In Style and Time Out.
The driving force behind the transformation of Topshop is the team led by brand director Jane Shepherdson, who has been rated as one of the fashion industry’s most influential figures.As well as the