THE WINNERS AND LOSERS
ONLINE SUCCESS
Asos
Asos.com is a British online fashion and beauty store. Aimed at young adults, the site stocks more than 850 high street and designer brands, as well as its own clothing and accessories.
It was reported that sales for the financial year ending August 2013 were £753.8m.
Celebrity fans include Taylor Swift and Kate Middleton.
Amazon
Amazon is one of the largest internet-based retailers in the world. While it started as an online bookstore, it now stocks DVDs, CDs, video as well as electronics, clothing, furniture, food and toys.
Amazon.com is said to have made more than £142m in the last three months of 2014.
Net-A-Porter
Net-A-Porter is a high-fashion retailer which operates via a website designed in the style of a magazine. Originally launched in London in 2000 by Natalie Massenet, it is now a global brand with a number of celebrity fans, including Michelle Mone.
The website gets more than 2.5million unique visits every month.
Missguided
An online retailer for women’s clothing and accessories. As well as a host of celebrity fans including Kylie Jenner and Alexa Chung, Nicole Scherzinger has created a fashion line for the firm.
Very
British retailer based in Liverpool. Launched in 2009, it is aimed to work like an online catalogue, stocking clothes, shoes, furniture, toys and electronics.
Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton have both endorsed the website with their own clothing lines.
SHOP FLOPS
Woolworths
The popular high street chain was closed in January 2009 after it was revealed the company had debts of £385million, according to reports.
Founded in Liverpool in 1909 the chain had more than 800 stores in the UK when it was forced to shut.
As well as its Lady-Bird children’s clothing range, Woolworths owned the Chad Valley toy range and WorthIt! value products.
Republic
The clothing retailer was forced to close in 2013.
Founded in 1985, UK chain had more than 120 shops across the country.
After going into administration Republic was purchased by Sports Direct.
Comet
The electrical retail chain was forced to close in December 2012 after it was reported that losses had hit £230million. Founded in 1933 as a battery charging business, Comet became one of the UK’s top electrical retailers, selling computers, televisions and kitchen appliances.
JJB Sports
The sports clothing and equipment store was closed in September 2012.
According to reports the company fell into £150million worth of debt.
There were a total of 5,000 employees working for the chain when it shut.
Phones 4 U
The independent mobile phone retailer closed in September 2014 after companies including Orange, Vodafone and O2 ended their contracts with the company.
The company was founded in 1987 and was £168million debt when it was forced to close.