Lipsy to close standalone website and sell through Next and ASOS

Next-owned young fashion brand Lipsy is to close its standalone website and instead direct its online sales through the Next website and ASOS.

From January next year Lipsy.co.uk shoppers will be redirected to Next, which acquired the brand in 2008. The move will result in some "limited" redundancies at Next head office.

The business said the vast majority of online sales for the brand came via Next and added in a statement: "We will continue to focus on accelerating the growth of Lipsy and Lipsy & Co brands on Next online."

Lipsy operates 40 stores in the UK and Next says it plans to open more this year and a further store on London's Oxford Street is planned for next spring. It also operates around 40 franchise stores internationally.