Party time in City helps sales at Moss Bros

City businesses have started hosting Moss Bros parties to smarten up their staff.

"We go into companies in the evenings, they'll get 20 employees together and perhaps bring clients," chief executive Brian Brick said today.

The travelling tailor service is an off-shoot of Moss Bros' new shop near Liverpool Street, which sells bespoke suits from £250.

"We've been very encouraged by sales in the shop so far," said Brick. "We get lots of City youngsters, but we are also getting posher customers, who are used to spending £1,000 on a suit — now they get two suits for that price."

In the six months to the end of July like-for-like sales shot up 11.6%.

However, Moss Bros' losses have widened because of the cost of refurbishing its Bond Street and Brent Cross stores, rising to £3.3 million from £3 million in the period last year. The retailer is looking to slash costs to return the business to profit.

Brick also said the chain was benefiting from men sprucing up for job interviews with City employment still rocky: "I think we still see that a lot next year too."

Moss Bros's hire arm has performed well, with strong demand for top hats and tails for Royal Ascot and black-tie finally recovering after the recession.