Where next for TopShop & Shepherdson?
10-10-2006
Shhh, whisper it; the sartorially infamous ‘M’ word. Until the truth may or may not come out, it’ll be eternally speculated over whether it was indeed, Ms Moss appointment as couturier a la mode which prompted Jane Shepherdsons’ P45 request. Was she consulted or not on her commission? Did she just disagree with the idea? But whatever. The issue now is, in Shepherdsons’ absence will TopShop be destined for an untimely demise or shall the business continue to flourish? The answer is, undoubtedly the latter.
Sure enough it was a one-woman effort; having been there on the very bottom rung of the buying ladder 20 years ago, her shrewd and savvy risk-taking (that 50,000 tank-top order sure paid off) broke all traditional High Street conventions. The introduction of a maternity line, TopShop-To-Go delivery service, sponsorship of (and subsequent hip alignment with) new talent at London Fashion Week, all accelerated the brand way above its peers.
But the reason it’ll survive is this: the entire High Street milieu has changed now. Shepherdson revolutionized TopShop, but in turn, the whole High Street. Before her steely decision-making it was still taboo – embarrassing to admit shopping there. By removing the snobbery women revel in how cheap directional pieces are rather than expensive. And in the knowledge that this is her doing, it’s TopShop who will remain king.
Crucially she has left a bold legacy. And with that, a dynamic, loyal team in Karyn Fenn, Buying Director and Mary Homer, Commercial and Merchandising Director, whom will strive to run with her vision, driving the business forward. To trounce their competitors? Well their supermodel shaped trump card, being played from April 07, will no doubt hit ‘em hard. But now Retails’ First Lady is at last for sale, something tells me she won’t be on the market for long.
