ASOS sales leap by 59%

Online fashion retailer ASOS today unveiled a 59% rise in sales in the last three months of 2010 – with international sales up by 156%.

In a trading statement for the third quarter of its financial year, the company said total retail sales came in at £100.03m in the last three months of 2010, up from £62.98m in the same period last year.

Of that total 44%, or £43.7m, were international sales while UK sales rose by 23% to £56.3m from £45.9m last time.

European revenues grew by 102% to £24.5m, while US sales were up by 267% to £5.3m and sales elsewhere in the world grew by 300% to £13.96m.

The company pointed to the launch of its marketplace website in November 2010, and said its new warehouse fit out was still on schedule to launch this spring.

Chief executive Nick Robertson said: “I am pleased to report on another very strong quarter with retail sales growth accelerating to 59%, up from 50% in the first half. Our UK business grew 23% and our International business grew 156%, helped by the introduction of our US, French and German websites in October 2010 and a free global shipping offer in the run up to Christmas. International sales now represent 44% of the total up from 37% in the first half.

“With international sales continuing to perform well, we remain confident about the outlook and expect our full year results to be in line with market expectations.”