ASOS, a British online fashion and cosmetic retailer is a go-to place for anything en vogue. It offers a myriad of brands and prices for any budget. While the company’s name lives rent-free in our browsers and social media feeds, we think little about its meaning.
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But the acronym actually stands for something rather cool.
A ‘groundbreaking revelation’
We always knew that ASOS was an acronym but accepted it without questioning its meaning. And shoppers are only now figuring out that it is based on the brand’s original name, only shortened to be something catchier.
As people made this ‘groundbreaking revelation’, many were left wonderinghow they never knew this before or even showed curiosity to find out.
It turns out that ASOS actually stands for As Seen On Screen. Who knew?
The name ASOS is an acronym for “As Seen On Screen”.#facts#factsonly#FactsMatter#readthefactz#readthefacts#FactsNotFear#truth#history#latestfacts#factsormythspic.twitter.com/Q6tlvIsDyj
— Facts (@ReadTheFactz) August 8, 2022
When the company first launched in 2000, the store was called As Seen On Screen and the idea was that you could buy clothes seen on TV or in movies.
A way to success
In the past, ASOSused collaborations with celebrities and would offer looks they would be seen wearing. So, if you spotted Harry Styles rocking a blouse and a pair of trousers, you could get it from the retailer.
A few years later the company decided to sell other clothes too and as the original name no longer fit the corporate strategy, they adapted it to fit the purpose. ASOS definitely has a commercial ring to it.
We've just published our P1 financial results, covering the four months to the end of 2022. We're pleased by the progress made in the period. Read the results in full here: https://t.co/jop85ke5uepic.twitter.com/YhcJGeWczB
— ASOS news (@ASOS_news) January 12, 2023
Social media users were baffledto discover the truth behind their favourite online shopping destination.
One person tweeted:
Never knew ASOS stands for ‘As Seen On Screen’. Why am I so behind on things?
Another one said:
I just learned ASOS means ‘As Seen On Screen’ and originally sold clothes seen on tv shows.
A third one wrote:
Do the kids know that ASOS is actually an acronym for As Seen On Screen? And it used to be entirely focused on stocking versions of clothes you'd see in films or on popular shows?
They might never seeASOS in the same light again.
Sources used:
- Her: 'People are just realising ASOS actually stands for something'