yling experience in the new stores,” Yd’s head of marketing and creative Jeremy Taylor told Inside Retail. “After feedback from our customers, we’ve created a more modern design and are using a more vertical style of merchandising in our new stores.” According to Taylor, the new stores, which have so far launched in Highpoint in Melbourne, and Eastgardens in Sydney, use more digital signage to create a more consistent branding experience throughout. Additionally, the business has invested in a new styling area to help customers and staff build outfits together and to increase dwell time. The new design was actually finalised as early as 2019, but the implementation was delayed as the uncertainty of the pandemic took hold.  “We feel like we’re ready now,” Taylor said.  “The brand is going through a really exciting phase where we’ve got great product, we’ve got a world class new store concept, and we’re really driving our digital channels as well. I’m excited for people who have known Yd in the past to come see what we look like today.” Yd encourages customers who purchase their suits online to utilise click-and-collect and head in-store to have the brand’s staff tailor and style them. Photography by Ross Honeysett, design by Landini Associates Suited up Simultaneously, Yd has launched a Willy Wonka-esque promotion that will see over 100 suits given away to customers who locate golden tickets in stores, as well as via outdoor advertising.  The menswear business will share the location of one of its billboards through its social channels, andhang a new suit off the bottom of the billboard. The first person to arrive at the location and nab the suit gets to keep it.  Boxer Harry Garside, actor Josh Heuston and comedian Joel Creasey are the faces of the campaign, which is anchored on telling customers to ‘get the suit’ for the next six weeks. Additionally, every Yd store across the country will have one golden ticket hidden within a suit on the rack, which, if found, can be exchanged for a free suit. Beyond gifting suits to men across the country, the campaign aims to encourage more Australians to head in store to get themselves suited up ahead of the holidays. “We asked our customers what they missed most about parties, and while the list was long, ‘mates’ and ‘dressing up’ were right at the top, and we heard that,” Taylor said.  “We believe we’ve got the best people in our stores, and we want to bring people into our stores at a time when it’s all about styling for their events, and be more physically present than ever. “Post-Covid, we’ve definitely ridden the wave of events coming back, whether it’s weddings, formals, or just social gatherings. The Yd guy loves to dress up for whatever event it is, so with events back in full swing, we’re really excited to be able to give our customers that wider experience in our stores, and online.” Yd’s parent company Retail Apparel Group saw growth surge across its stable of brands following the overall lifting of restrictions, though also warned its rollout of new stores has been delayed by the pandemic’s impact. Earlier this month RAG said its sales had risen 23.6 per cent to $628.4 million in FY22, according to The Australian, while net profit jumped to $52.4 million.