Online offensive

IT is ironic that Asda has launched an online offensive with its George fashion range five years  after the supermarket  shut its high street clothes shops because they were  not profitable enough.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Feb 2013, 08:38 BST

The move by the Leeds-based retail giant is yet another wake-up call to local shopping areas  about the threat posed by both the major supermarkets – and the internet.

Even though like-for-like sales have remained flat, Asda reported its “biggest online Christmas ever” with sales rising by a significant 18.8 per cent.

This is good news for the thousands of people employed by Asda – and  the millions of customers who enjoy the firm’s competitive prices.

Yet, as supermarkets continue to expand their range of non-food products, it is potentially bad news for the high street unless it can evolve. It needs to start offering the convenience and ease of the internet, starting with a moratorium on any increases in parking charges that might be planned by local councils.

ASDA Leeds