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Ted Baker shareholders hope for positive Black Friday after crisis-filled year

TheIndustry.fashion
06 December 2019

Investors in Ted Baker will be hoping for some rare positive news to cheer about in its trading update next week after a dire year for the luxury fashion brand.

Shares in the premium fashion and lifestyle brand have slid by more than 75% since January in a year which has seen it post three profit warnings.

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said on Monday that the company has “lurched from one crisis to another” over the past two years.

The firm came under significant pressure after founder and chief executive Ray Kelvin resigned from the company in March following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards staff.

Kelvin had taken already taken a step back from activities at the business in December 2018 after allegations of misconduct involving “forced hugs” and ear-massaging. Kelvin has denied any wrongdoing.

Earlier this week, the company’s shares plunged further after bosses uncovered that its inventory had been overstated by between £20 million and £25 million.

Ted Baker said it has brought in lawyers and independent accounts to assess the issue but insisted it will have no cash impact and only relates to previous years.

But it is the company’s trading performance which will be the focus of scrutiny on Wednesday 11 December, when the firm updates investors on trading for the 17 weeks to 7 December.

In its half-year update in October, the company swung to a £23 million loss for the six months to 11 August as it was impacted by heavy discounting across the high street.

It also reported a -0.7% decline in sales to £303.8 million in the period as it was also impacted by consumer uncertainty and a poorly received spring/summer collection.

During the update, the brand said its troubles could continue into the second half of the year if market conditions do not improve.

Investors in the company will also be hoping that it reported strong Black Friday sales after offering a blanket 30% off discount across its merchandise for the event.

The company has also attempted to drive a turnaround in performance by appointing consultancy Alix Partners for a root-and-branch review of its operations.

In response, a spokesman for Ted Baker said: “From time to time the group engages professional advisers to provide additional expertise in order to help enhance the group’s operations and drive progress against Ted Baker’s strategy to further develop as a global lifestyle brand.”

In its most recent broker note, analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald said they believe “near term headwinds are set to continue and it will take time for investor confidence to return”.

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