Asos, Debenhams to Strengthen E-Commerce Businesses

Nick Robertson, Asos' chief executive officer, said he hopes the e-tailer will become a £1 billion ($1.5 billion) business in five years, adding that international expansion meant that it could quadruple in size by 2015. He said Asos is aiming to have five websites with the "shop fronts" tailored to its largest markets and conceded that the retailer was too conservative last year. Other international retailers, H&M and Zara, announced that they, too, will start to sell clothing online this year.

Meanwhile, Debenhams is going to invest in technology to improve its website as it looks to build on growing multi-channel sales and has chosen e-commerce company Fredhopper to do it. Since the re-launch of its website in November 2009, Debenhams has seen a double-digit increase in conversions. The department store chain, which has more than 150 shops in the U.K. and Ireland, last week reported half-year figures showing multi-channel