Savvy shoppers snap up designer bargains

IRISH shoppers have flocked to British online clothing retailer Asos to take advantage of weak sterling to buy discounted designer clothes.

As it announced itsannual results yesterday, Asos said that Ireland was one of its top five international markets and that it made a significant impact in helping international sales surge 303% to £32 million (€37.6m) in the year ended 31 March 2009.

International sales now account for 19% of total sales, compared with 10% last year.

The company ships to 58 countries, up from 34 countries in 2008.

Chief executive of Asos Nick Robertson said: “The international division is phenomenal because last year we had that lovely exchange rate issue, of which we were a big beneficiary.

“Our international sales grew to £32m, which is the same size the whole of the business four years ago.

“And if it keeps growing at current run rate of 150%, then our international sales [this year] will be the same size as the whole of the Asos business two years ago.”

Asos is planning to introduce flat-rate shipping charges for clothes and introduce country-specific sites, although for the moment, all international orders will continue to be shipped from the group’s British warehouse.

“The company has no immediate plans to introduce an Irish site but it is only just beginning its international roll out,” said a company spokeswoman.

Asos, which is Britain’s second-largest online clothing retailer, said that overall revenue rose at a slower pace in the past 13 weeks as growth in internet sales starts to moderate.

Asos sales and profit doubled for a third consecutive year as a boom in online shopping fuelled growth at theretailer, which aims to attract 16-to-34-year-olds by offering versions of clothes worn by actresses and models at much more affordable prices.