EDCON and House of Busby have been granted the South African franchise rights for Topshop and Topman, the UK-based fashion retail chains.
The first branches will be standalone stores, with a flagship, 950m² Topshop and Topman store to open in Sandton City by the end of November.
A second store has been confirmed to open at the Gateway shopping centre in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, before the end of the year.
Additional standalone stores are planned for major retail centres across the country, complemented by shops-within-shops at certain Edgars stores.
“We are very pleased to be able to bring the iconic Topshop and Topman brands to the South African consumer. The agreement leverages the strengths of our two organisations and is an exciting development in fashion retail,” Edcon CEO Jürgen Schreiber and Veronique Shera, MD Busby Retail, said.
Topshop and Topman have more than 750 stores worldwide.
The British multinational retailer is part of the Arcadia Group, wholly owned by multibillionaire businessman Sir Philip Green.
“I am delighted to be launching Topshop and Topman in South Africa through the arrangement with Edcon and Busby,” he said. “This represents another step in our continued international growth, and I am confident the South African customers will enjoy the retail experience and fantastic product offer that both our brands will deliver for them.”
What does this mean to local retail stores only time will tell
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