Ted Baker, the iconic 1990s fashion chain known for its signature floral prints and smart casual menswear and womenswear, is planning a return to standalone bricks-and-mortar stores in the UK, with the first opening expected "very soon."
Brand History and Recent Challenges
Founded in 1988, Ted Baker became a popular fixture on UK high streets. Its intellectual property rights are owned by US firm Authentic Brands Group (ABG), while UK and European operations were previously run by licensed operator No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL). However, all Ted Baker stores in the UK and Ireland were forced to close in August 2024 after NODL entered administration earlier that year.
Return to Retail
Despite the closures, the brand has continued trading internationally through standalone stores outside the UK under ABG's ownership. Products remain available online and, more recently, via concession stores in the UK. Currently, Ted Baker operates two concessions in England: the first launched in May at the Selfridges store in Manchester's Trafford Centre, and a second opened this week at Selfridges in Birmingham. These mark the brand's first dedicated retail spaces in the UK since NODL's collapse.
Nicola Mathews, ABG senior vice president of brand EMEA and India, confirmed the company's ambition to reopen standalone stores. Speaking to Retail Week, she said: "We wanted to be a lot more considered, so that when we do reopen the doors, and it will be very soon to our own standalone store for Ted Baker, that we know which story to tell." According to Retail Week, Ted Baker's first standalone store is expected to launch later this year.
Future Plans
Mathews teased "really exciting news" regarding the brand's footprint in England over the next couple of months. Beyond concessions and online sales, Ted Baker maintains a presence through licensing partnerships with retailers such as John Lewis and Specsavers.
