Authentic Partners With Ares Holdings to Expand Ted Baker's Retail Footprint in South Africa
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand development and licensing company, has partnered with ARES Holdings, a South African brand distribution company, to strengthen Ted Baker’s presence in South Africa. The partnership will see two new retail stores for the brand as ARES Holdings will take on the distribution of sportswear, tailored clothing, denim apparel, outwear and footwear for men and women. The stores, located in Johannesburg’s Hyde Park Corner and Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, mark a significant milestone in Authentic’s strategy to expand Ted Baker’s global footprint.
“This partnership with ARES Holdings marks an exciting new chapter for Ted Baker in South Africa," said Warren Bowers, General Manager, Africa at Authentic. “By combining Ted Baker’s brand DNA with ARES Holdings’ deep knowledge of the South African market, we’re creating exceptional shopping experiences for consumers in Johannesburg, Cape Town and beyond.”
The newly launched stores each have a unique design that reflects the character of their location:
Hyde Park Corner, Johannesburg: The store’s design draws inspiration from the equestrian heritage of London’s Hyde Park, celebrating the iconic Rotten Row pathway. Equestrian elements such as horseshoes and saddles adorn the space, while fitting rooms are styled as horse stalls, blending elegance with playfulness. The design also incorporates patterns and fabrics that resonate with South Africa’s rich history of vibrant textiles. Located at Shop UM27B, Cnr Jan Smuts Avenue and William Nicol, Hyde Park Corner.
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town: This store takes inspiration from the journey of penguins between London and Cape Town, incorporating nautical themes and Art Deco influences. Nautical details like portholes and ropes are paired with geometric patterns and rich textures, while playful penguin motifs in South African-inspired outfits add a whimsical touch. Located at Shop 7212, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.
“We are excited to embark on this journey with Authentic to bring fresh energy to Ted Baker in South Africa. The two new retail spaces have come to life beautifully, showing off Ted’s quirky and unique character. There is no doubt that our customers are going to love shopping in these spaces.” Gareth Kemp, CEO, ARES Holdings.
Both stores will feature an extensive assortment of the Ted Baker Spring/Summer ’24 Collection, including stylish options for both women and men, as well as the popular Ted Baker Icon bags.
About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a unified platform that integrates M&A, brand strategy, creativity and digital innovation to unlock the power of its global portfolio. It connects iconic sports, lifestyle, entertainment and media brands with best-in-class partners to optimize long-term value in the marketplace. Generating more than $32 billion in global annual retail sales, Authentic’s brands have an expansive retail footprint in 150 countries, including 13,000-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops and 400,000 points of sale.
Authentic’s brand portfolio includes Shaquille O’Neal, David Beckham, Sports Illustrated, Dr. J, Greg Norman, Neil Lane, Thalia, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, Reebok, Champion, Brooks Brothers, Barneys New York, Judith Leiber Couture, Ted Baker, Hunter, Vince, Hervé Léger, Frye, Nautica, Juicy Couture, Vince Camuto, Lucky Brand, Aéropostale, Forever 21, Nine West, Sperry, Rockport, Eddie Bauer, Boardriders, Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, DC Shoes, RVCA, Spyder, Volcom, Prince, Izod, Van Heusen, Hart Schaffner Marx and Thomasville.
For more information, visit authentic.com.
Follow Authentic on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and WeChat.
About Ares Holding
Ares Holdings (Pty) Ltd is a proudly South African company with a strong world view.
Purveyors of unique global brands, Ares Holdings combines industry skill, technology and infrastructure to successfully bring global brands to the Southern African consumer through a curated multi-channel network.
Established in 2015, Ares has acquired the exclusive distribution rights for Crocs, Birkenstock, Under Armour, Vans, Hey Dude and Ted Baker. Together Ares Holdings has established a successful business comprising of over 65 owned retail stores, a network of over 2500 wholesale doors and six owned e-comm sites. Ares has an exceptional track record with their current brands; strong relationships with the wholesale customers and a highly regarded experienced leadership team.
With a consumer first approach, time and energy has been spent on mapping out the recently changed consumer journey. Ares is an attractive distribution partner for global brands in Southern Africa.
About Ted Baker
Founded over three decades, Ted Baker is recognized as one of the fastest-growing brands in the UK, displaying a commitment to its inherent authenticity, exploration and inclusivity. Beginning as a menswear line, today Ted Baker offers a wide range of contemporary designer must-haves and reinvented classics across a variety of categories including menswear, womenswear, accessories, footwear, homeware and beauty. The brand continues to introduce modern interpretations of iconic product staples such as The Rose Coat, The Icon Bag and The Darcell Bag. Ted Baker brand is available in 191 freestanding stores, shop-in-shops, and outlets in 49 countries worldwide.
For more information, visit www.tedbaker.co.za.
Follow Ted Baker on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
PRESS ENQUIRIES
ARES Holdings
Kim Thornton, kim@tedbaker.co.za
Kerry Seymour, kerry@splashpr.co.za
Official Distributor of TED BAKER in South Africa
2nd Floor, Block 3
Northgate Park
Paarden Eiland
Cape Town 7441
Authentic Brands Group
Giana Elenterio, gelenterio@authentic.com
Scarlet Manzueta, smanzueta@authentic.com