In 1973, parent company Burton Group launched a major expansion of its womenswear division,

splitting Top Shop by Peter Robinson into two chains to be known as Peter Robinson and Top
Shop. It was announced that while Peter Robinson would target the over 25s market, Top Shop
would focus on the age range from 13 to 24, with Ralph Halpern directing the new venture.[13] By
1974, Peter Robinson had been reduced from 22 stores to six, while Top Shop was developing
independently (still retaining the one co-branded shop in Oxford Street) and was described as
"highly profitable". Its key retail rivals included Miss Selfridge and the Way In boutique arm
of Harrods.[14] Within two years, Top Shop had 55 standalone branches, with more to come
according to an article in The Times. Fashion editor Prudence Glynn described it as having a:
"sharp definition of purpose".[15] It made profits of £1m that year.[16] By 1978, Top Shop accounted
for a third of Burton's operating profits.[17]
Also in 1978, Burton embarked on a drive to win a larger share of the men's fashion market in the
midst of declining sales of men's tailoring, launching the Topman brand along similar lines to its
women's retail arm. It was described by an executive as: "more of a 'brother to Top Shop than a
son of Burton'."[18] The following year, Burton announced sales and profits up by 30 percent in
womenswear, with Topman also being cited as highly profitable. [19] By the start of the 1980s, the
brand was being referred to as Topshop.[20]
In 1973, parent company Burton Group launched a major expansion of its womenswear division,
splitting Top Shop by Peter Robinson into two chains to be known as Peter Robinson and Top
Shop. It was announced that while Peter Robinson would target the over 25s market, Top Shop
would focus on the age range from 13 to 24, with Ralph Halpern directing the new venture.[13] By
1974, Peter Robinson had been reduced from 22 stores to six, while Top Shop was developing
independently (still retaining the one co-branded shop in Oxford Street) and was described as
"highly profitable". Its key retail rivals included Miss Selfridge and the Way In boutique arm
of Harrods.[14] Within two years, Top Shop had 55 standalone branches, with more to come
according to an article in The Times. Fashion editor Prudence Glynn described it as having a:
"sharp definition of purpose".[15] It made profits of £1m that year.[16] By 1978, Top Shop accounted
for a third of Burton's operating profits.[17]
Also in 1978, Burton embarked on a drive to win a larger share of the men's fashion market in the
midst of declining sales of men's tailoring, launching the Topman brand along similar lines to its
women's retail arm. It was described by an executive as: "more of a 'brother to Top Shop than a
son of Burton'."[18] The following year, Burton announced sales and profits up by 30 percent in
womenswear, with Topman also being cited as highly profitable. [19] By the start of the 1980s, the
brand was being referred to as Topshop.[20]