TOPSHOP & TOPMAN SECURE FLAGSHIP STORE IN SANDTON CITY

Self-confessed one-stop-shop for cool London style, legendary TOPSHOP and TOPMAN will open their first South African store in Sandton City, Johannesburg in November 2012. The House of Busby, together with Edcon, has been granted the exclusive South African franchise rights for the British High-Street style champions. Both TOPSHOP and TOPSHOP MAN will be housed in a flagship 950 square metre store in Sandton City; Johannesburg’s largest and most iconic shopping destination. A second store is planned for opening in Gateway, Durban in December 2012, with plans for future store roll-outs including Cape Town and shop-in-shops exclusively within key Edgars’ stores.

Established in 1964, TOPSHOP and TOPMAN currently operate over 750 stores worldwide, with South Africa the 37th country to welcome the renowned labels. Originating as a young fashion brand in the basement of former departmental chain, Peter Robinson Ltd, the brands have earned their reputations as major style authorities. The success of what have become iconic brands is based largely on their ubiquitous appeal. Signifying different things to their expansive customer base, TOPSHOP and TOPMAN present the most fashion-forward pieces whilst allowing for personal interpretation and expression by their customers.

Significantly, the South African stores will be directly aligned with their UK counterpart in terms of merchandise and trend offering. Customers will be able to purchase from the same collection as available in the brand’s UK stores, with the focus being on season-suitable merchandise. The dynamic South African space, with a uniquely British shopping experience, will afford customers extensive, on-trend TOPSHOP and TOPMAN collections including apparel, footwear, accessories, lingerie and make-up.

Sir Philip Green, owner of Arcadia Group Ltd, is “delighted to be launching TOPSHOP and TOPMAN in South Africa through the arrangement with Edcon and Busby. This represents another step in our continued international growth, and I am confident that the South African customers will enjoy the retail experience and fantastic product offer that both our brands will deliver for them.”

Mary Homer, Managing Director for TOPSHOP says, “We’ve wanted to offer our full TOPSHOP retail experience to the fashion conscious South African customer for a long time and now with two fantastic sites we will be able to offer great fashion that is first to market.” David Shepherd, Chief Operating Officer – Trading & Managing Director for TOPMAN, says, “We are very pleased to be opening our first official TOPMAN franchise store in Johannesburg. There is obviously a demand in the South African market for the brand as seen by the fantastic response to our recent temporary pop-up store in Cape Town. South Africa’s vibrant and growing fashion scene makes this a natural and relevant next step for us.”

Home to the hottest key trends across women’s and menswear, TOPSHOP and TOPMAN are not brands liable to complacency; promising to be significant additions to the ever-evolving South African fashion landscape.