Topshop to Go Global!

[susie_bubble]

TOPSHOP'S TOP TRUMPSCOLEEN take note: TopShop is set to launch a flagship store in Manchester. Expect the clatter of Chloe wedges as Manchester Utd's leading ladies beat a path to the (floor to ceiling curved), door at the prospect of VIP treatments aplenty. The store, which is the second largest after Oxford Street, has an exclusive 'changing suite' area for those too fabulous to shop with the masses - complete with antique furniture, free consultations and a speed payment service. Speaking of which, its website is undergoing a revamp, too, and from June customers will be able to buy 100% of TopShop stock online. The company, which only sells a capsule collection of key items via the current site each season, plans also to add an online photographer's studio to shoot all stock as it arrives in store. And it's going to give all the luxury online sales teams a run for their money too, with gorgeous packaging for all the send-outs to arrive in. The boxes, plain on the outside, can be re-assembled to create a newly printed box in a selection of limited edition prints. And they're recyclable. The world domination goes on... After selling its fashion range, Unique, to New York boutique Opening Ceremony and Paris' Colette, brand director Jane Sheperdson has revealed that TopShop is now on the verge of branching out to Tokyo, Hong Kong and L.A. "There's a website in Japan with 3,000 TopShop fans blogging about how much they love our store," she told Drapers. (April 10 2006, AM)

Stephen Doig

From vogue.co.uk

[Meg]

SO glad to hear about the update on the website front. It's exciting to hear about it branching out.....really interesting from a retailing prospective and i wonder how they will alter the topshop model to suit different shopping demographics.....it's interesting about the VIP shopping suite in Manchester....I'm sure that it must be open to the public as well if they book it. That's always been one of their selling points I feel....VIP for free (or at least, redeemable against purchases)

[Spacemiu]

So glad they are coming to LA

[Senna]

^ Can imagine!

But on the other hand, I always love it when I buy lots of great items there and then take it back home (I live in Holland) where no one else has them..

[seasecrets]

that's cool that they're coming to L.A.

[masquerade]

LA! thats awesome
the store is a bit expensive though. i know its all about cheap this and that, and maybe it was because i was translating british to american dollars, but still not as affordable as everyne says

[janith]

topshop in hong kong im gonna past out any minute.

[faust]

What is the big deal about this store?

[Baizilla]

First reason is that it is fairly cheap.

Secondly, TS is constantly several steps ahead of the rest of the high street stores, because of their continual supporting of new talents from London, which means that they give the opportunity to up-and-coming talents to do some collections, every season.

[susie_bubble]

^Quite right!

[Nilo]

Does anybody know if they will be shipping outside of the UK when they launch the new website?

[SiennaInLondon]

This sucks! I like having it to myself and having somewhere to take people my age when they visit the country...

[EskimoGirl]

i wonder where in la they'll put it. any ideas? regardless, i'm still really excited! i'm already a huge fan of the website, so this could rapidly become one of my favorite stores.

[susie_bubble]

^The website doesn't even cover a smidge of what the flagship store in London sells...... in fact, I think the website is pretty terrible in the stock it sells.

I think LA ppl will be floored if it's anything like the store here.....

[mishahoi]

I have never been to a topshop, and never had the option of going, so i have never really looked at what they produce, but after reading this, my interest is greatly piqued. i just looked at the website for the first time and i found quite a few things i would actually wear. the jackets, a swimsuit, one of the dresses, a little cut off coat... very very cute and definitely not too expensive. i wonder about the quality though?