Luxury fuels growth for ShopStyle

ShopStyle, the fashion shopping site, has topped the 1.3m monthly user mark,

increasing its users by 500,000 in 2011, predominantly fuelled by large increases in luxury brand activity with searches for the top ten luxury brands increasing by 49 per cent year-on-year.

During 2011, ShopStyle.co.uk grew its brand selection by 100 per cent, in particular adding luxury designers like Alexander McQueen and Ralph Lauren brand stores to its portfolio. Searches to both of these designer labels alone grew by 79 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively between December 2010 and December 2011.

“2011 was the year that luxury really came into its own online,” says Shannon Edwards, VP and Managing Director Europe for Sugar Inc. “Despite the uncertain economic conditions, we are experiencing growing registrations and visits to our site, and huge increases in searches for luxury labels. Luxury fashion is experiencing enormous traction through social media, and our own style book community is no exception. Our users are collecting key pieces and creating looks with them before investing in these high ticket items.”