Rapid Response
British high street retailer Ted Baker has appointed the law firm Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, to conduct an independent external investigation into harassment complaints from members of staff.
The brand said Thursday that Herbert Smith Freehills will report into a committee of Ted Baker's non-executive directors that will be chaired by Sharon Baylay, a business coach and mentor who has been a non-executive director at Ted Baker since June.
As reported, female staff members have started an online petition urging the company to “end harassment at Ted Baker” and “scrap the forced ‘hugs.'”
Staffers have accused Ray Kelvin, Ted Baker's founder who has a 35 percent stake in the company, of inappropriate hugging, touching and sexual innuendo. They have also said the company's h.r. department has been slow to address their concerns. The company has denied any wrongdoing.
Despite a drop in the FTSE 100 on Thursday, shares in Ted Baker closed up 1.6 percent to 14.90 pounds. Earlier in the day, the company said in a trading update that revenue was broadly flat in the four months to Dec. 1.
The flat performance was largely due to a decline in wholesale sales stemming from the timing of deliveries. By contrast, total retail sales including e-commerce increased by 2.3 percent, Ted Baker said.
— SAMANTHA CONTI the 2008 recession. According to research by Cushman & Wakefield, Madison Avenue availability rose to 27.8 percent at the end of the second quarter of this year, a 4.3 percent increase over the 2017 quarter. Meanwhile, the average asking rent was $1,300, a 9.2 percent decline.
There has been action on the street of late — albeit south of where Mouret's town house was located — with brands including Balenciaga and Celine planning to open stores at 610620 Madison and 650 Madison, respectively. — S.C.
It's not the designer's first non-fashion-related collaboration: In 2018 alone, Abloh teamed up with IKEA, Moët & Chandon and Paris-based coffee shop Wild & The Moon. For the latter, the designer came up with a greentinted almond milk named Saint Honoré, sold in a reusable glass bottle, to mark the opening of
Wild & The Moon's flagship café.
— FLEUR BURLET