Japanese-branded British Retailer SUPERDRY Faces Bankruptcy as Business Prospects 'Dry Up' 📉🇯🇵🇬🇧
Considered a 'status symbol high-street fashion' brand. Superdry's journey seems to have reached a dead end
Superdry's modest origins can be traced back to 2003 when Julian Dunkerton and James Holder founded the company to bridge a significant gap in the UK men's fashion market. It all started with an inspirational trip to Tokyo
At its peak in 2018, Superdry clocked £1.604 billion in revenue, owned 248 retail stores, franchised over 500 branded stores, had a presence in more than 100 countries, and partnered with the likes of David Beckham, Neymar, and Idris Elba
Today, Superdry's shares are down 98% and reduced to a penny stock. Revenues have steadily dwindled to £622.5 million, with a loss of £21.7 million(it was profitable the previous year), and layoffs and store closures for cost-cutting have become a common theme. It's also planning to delist from the London Stock Exchange
What led to this woeful situation for a brand once emblematic of high-street fashion?
⌲ Co-founder Julian Dunkerton left Superdry in 2018 due to disagreements with CEO Euan Sutherland's strategy, believing the company had become misguided. Once out, Dunkerton staged the ultimate coup by building an 18% stake, becoming the largest shareholder. He won a board vote for his return, prompting the entire board's resignation and paving the way for restructuring
⌲ Global warming(no kidding): Primarily known for its outerwear and cold-weather clothing, they suffered from unseasonably warm weather in key markets, which negatively impacted sales of these high-margin items
⌲ Erosion of brand equity: Superdry's brand identity has been diluted over time due to various factors such as over-expansion, discounting, and a lack of focus on its core products. A 2019 survey saw Superdry's brand impression score fall from 18.5 to 11.3
⌲ Stayed offline: Failed at capitalizing on the e-commerce boom, particularly during the pandemic when it surged. In 2021, Superdry's online sales grew by 33.1% but still only accounted for 29.6% of total revenue
Do you think SUPERDRY can make a comeback? Comment below!
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Please note that the aforementioned factors are not exhaustive, and various other elements played a role in the situation
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