Is Topshop Australia's future in busting out of CBD locations and into regionals?
"No," Topshop Australia director David Slade told delegates at a Ragtrader Live conference last year.
"I know for example that Zara in the UK didn't work in the regionals.
"Zara is a great brand but it is a city brand. It worked in Manchester, it worked in Nottingham but it did not work in the Midlands."
Slade instead backed expansion of Topshop Australia via a concession partnership with Myer and the launch of a localised eCommerce platform.
"When you start going to the regionals, price becomes a real issue.
"I find it interesting that H&M really brought their prices down, they've got down there with Primark. Topshop we can't do that. We can't get into $7 garments.
"The potential with Myer is unlimited, we're talking 25-30 concessions, it has been great with Myer and having them as a partner means it gets major presentation."