Ted Baker is plotting a major return to the high street almost two years after its disappearance from UK town centres.
The fashion brand is set to open its first new standalone UK store later this year, nearly two years after all its British locations closed following the collapse of its UK store operator, No Ordinary Designer Label.
The closures marked the end of the brand’s 36-year presence on the high street.
A spokesman for Authentic Brands Group, which owns Ted Baker, said the first standalone store will open “very soon”.
(Image: Jam Press/Ted Baker)
The brand has already begun a gradual return to physical retail through boutique concessions in Selfridges, including its latest opening at Selfridges Birmingham in the Bullring.
A similar concession was launched at the Trafford Centre in Manchester in May.
After the collapse of its UK store operator in March 2024, all 46 Ted Baker stores across the country closed by August, resulting in hundreds of job losses.
Following these closures, Authentic Brands Group relaunched the Ted Baker UK website in November, resuming online sales of menswear, womenswear, and accessories while searching for a new operating partner.
Ted Baker was founded in Glasgow in 1988 and rose to become one of Britain’s most recognisable fashion labels, operating around 550 stores and concessions worldwide at its peak.
UK clothing retailer at risk after entering administration
A UK clothing retailer is at risk of closing, having fallen into administration.
Activewear Group Ltd, established in March 2014, is a clothing and fashion retailer specialising in affordable activewear, workwear, and uniforms.
The company, which also offers printing and embroidery services, trades directly with leading brands and maintains strong relationships with the UK’s top wholesalers.
Activewear’s LinkedIn profile adds: “Our aim is to provide the highest quality of service to ensure a great end user customer experience through a cost effective approach.”
The company operates online via its website and from a 1,750 square foot warehouse in Redditch, with a 1,500 sq ft area which is used as a showroom, packing, and office/meeting area.
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Stuart Kelly and Claire Harsley from Mackay Goodwin Limited were appointed joint administrators on July 8, according to The Gazette.
Activewear Group had registered a charge with Companies House in June, just weeks before entering administration.
The charge represents a loan or debt secured against the company’s assets, giving lenders priority in the event of insolvency.
There is a clearance sale currently running on the Activewear Group website, while other sections are unavailable.
