Ted Baker Sales Jump as Return-to-Office Wave Spurs Demand for Formal Wear

Shoppers walk past a Ted Baker store on Regents Street in London, Britain December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
Shoppers walk past a Ted Baker store on Regents Street in London, Britain December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
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Ted Baker Sales Jump as Return-to-Office Wave Spurs Demand for Formal Wear

Shoppers walk past a Ted Baker store on Regents Street in London, Britain December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
Shoppers walk past a Ted Baker store on Regents Street in London, Britain December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

British fashion chain Ted Baker reported higher sales and a smaller loss for the first half of the year on Thursday, as it navigates a bumpy recovery from the pandemic.

Demand for formal and occasion wear pushed group revenues up nearly 18% year-over-year in the 28 weeks to Aug. 14, the company said, as rising vaccinations in Europe and America drove many back to offices.

"Occasionwear has seen a strong pick-up across men's and women's collections," Chief Executive Rachel Osborne said in a statement, adding that sales of formal wear and suiting had also risen.

Osborne has been steering the upmarket retailer through a three-year turnaround strategy focused on cost cuts, refreshing its product range and boosting its online presence.

Group revenues were, however, still down 36% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Ted Baker said the pace of the recovery had been uneven as the pandemic continues to affect footfall at retail stores.

The company did not provide annual financial forecasts but said it was "comfortable" with analyst expectations for the current financial year.



PUMA Opens New Creative Hub to Foster Excellence in Design

Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand. AP
Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand. AP
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PUMA Opens New Creative Hub to Foster Excellence in Design

Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand. AP
Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand. AP

Sports company PUMA has opened Studio48, a new creative hub at its headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where its designers and creatives can come together to freely develop new ideas and create concepts for new performance and Sportstyle products as well as campaigns.

Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand.

“With the new Studio48 we are creating a significant tool to enhance the excellence of our designs and elevate the brand,” said PUMA’s Vice President Creative Direction & Innovation Heiko Desens. “While many of our products are created digitally, Studio48 will be a space for a different kind of creativity, where our designers from different departments can brainstorm together, exchange best practices, experience new materials and touch and feel the products they want to make.”

While Studio48 can be used by the company’s designers and creatives all year round, the space will also play an important part when hosting external partners or bringing PUMA’s global design community together for workshops and events.

As part of the opening event in December, PUMA hosted a workshop at Studio48 by US-based upcycler Nicole McLaughlin, who shared her vision on circularity. The event was joined by PUMA designers across all product categories from several of the company’s worldwide locations.