the figures looked "a little light"

The increase was not enough to please some discount ugg classic tall boots investors who fear a loss of momentum at the website, which targets fashion-conscious women with high street versions of designer clothes worn by celebrities. The shares closed down 33p to 435p.

Chief executive Nick Robertson scotched analysts' concerns, stating: "I'm the happiest retailer in the UK. Nobody else has produced figures of 30%. We couldn't continue growing at the rate." Sales at Asos were up 38% in the 42 weeks to 17 January, against 46% when it last updated the market in November. "It is a slowdown but this is what we're planning to do," said Robertson. "This is going to be a more normalised rate of growth, 30% is wholesale ugg boots a phenomenal achievement in the current climate."

In 2008, Asos had to bring January sales wholesale ugg boots forward to clear excess stocks, so it bought more cautiously for Christmas 2009. As a result margins climbed 0.8% in the five weeks to 3 January. It is on track to make profits of £20m this year, up from £14.1m a year ago. While the majority of retailers have been hit by the recession Asos has marched on benefiting from the young bias of its shopper base. It is sponsoring the new series of America's Next Top Model, which starts discount ugg boots tonight.

Robertson conceded some of its 1.5 million customers had begun to feel the pinch but equally, helped by low interest rates, others were spending more. "Party dresses was our biggest category by a country mile, within that the whole lace trend was phenomenal," said Robertson, who added that Ugg boots were the "bonus ball" in sales terms.

International sales – the group delivers discount ugg classic cardy boots  to more than 100 countries – were up 102% in the period. This year it will launch a dedicated American website. Seymour Pierce analyst Freddie George said the figures looked "a little light" given it had been offering free returns since September.

 

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