Ted Baker posts sales rise despite poor weather

Total retail sales including ecommerce edged up 0.7% in the 19 weeks to June 9. Ecommerce sales, which Ted Baker said are “an integral and increasingly important component within our retail channel”, climbed 33.6%. Wholesale revenues increased by 14.2%.

The retailer said that the performance was achieved “despite the impact of unseasonal weather across Europe and the East Coast of America in the early part of the period and external trading conditions remaining challenging across many of our global markets.

“Both retail and wholesale gross margins were in line with our expectations.”

Ted Baker said that its “flexible business model, including a relatively low number of own stores, enables us to respond to structural changes in the retail sector” and that it is “focused on delivering full-year expectations”.

Ted Baker chief executive Ray Kelvin said: “We are pleased with the customer responses to our collections as well as the brand’s continued expansion across each of its distribution channels. 

“We have made significant investment in our flexible business model to ensure that the Ted customer has multiple channels to engage with the brand.

“Our global ecommerce business continues to grow very strongly and is complemented by our unique stores and digital and social selling strategy, which showcase the brand to our customers.

“The group’s continued progress and growth is a reflection of the design and quality of our collections as well as the sustained appeal of the Ted Baker brand.

“These strengths, along with our business model and the passion, skill and commitment of our team mean that, despite an uncertain consumer outlook, we are well positioned to continue Ted Baker’s long-term development.”