ASOS appoints Clipper to ship to China from Yorkshire

The fulfilment operation will be based at the Clipper’s e-fulfilment centre of excellence in Selby, which already handles UK and international returns for ASOS. The siting of the solution takes advantage of its proximity to the brand’s existing distribution hub in Barnsley. Existing transportation between the two sites will be further utilised to ensure increased efficiency and flexibility. 

Initially, the operation will ship over half a million items of clothing to China per year. However, the solution has been designed with the ability to cope with significant planned growth of the ASOS brand in China. The bespoke solution has been developed to reduce the cost of transporting goods to China, whilst greatly reducing the need for inefficient holding of stock. The process will also involve specific pre-retailing services for the Chinese market, where appropriate.

ASOS Logistics Director David Meredith, said: "ASOS China represents an exciting new market for us, working with Clipper will allow us to increase efficiency, reduce transport costs and ultimately provide an improved customer experience for our ASOS.cn customers.”

Sean Hallows, Operations Director at Clipper added: "ASOS is an internationally respected fashion brand with hugely impressive growth in global sales over recent years. This retail solution has been implemented with the future of the business in mind and with the option to accommodate further development of the brand. Returns present a unique challenge for retailers, and we have met and exceeded our existing targets for the ASOS returns solution. This has given them the confidence in our ability to handle a new territory for them in their growing portfolio of international markets. We look to take the lessons we’ve learnt from our existing contract, to help implement this fulfilment solution and ensure success for ASOS and satisfaction for their customers in China.”

Clipper already handles online fulfilment and reverse logistics for a range of well-known fashion retailers and multichannel outlets across Europe. The solution put in place for the ASOS China operation will increase accuracy and the availability of stock, whilst ensuring maximum efficiency and added value for the retailer by sharing administrative and technology functions with the returns solution already in place. Clipper will service the operation at the Selby e-fulfilment centre of excellence, with further space available for expansion as demand increases.