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Articles about Marks & Spencer
British businesses recognised in the Queen's Award for Enterprise Monday, 23rd April 2012
Photo credit: Chris Jackson
Hackett London, Boxfresh, Regatta and Marks & Spencer are among a handful of British brands recognised in the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, which honours outstanding UK-based companies.
The awards are distributed by the Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister and an Advisory Committee made up of government representatives, industry leaders and trade unions.
The Awards for Enterprise are the highest possible accolade for business success in the UK.
Posted in fashion, Fashion News, Retail Industry Tagged Hackett London, Boxfresh, Regatta, Marks & Spencer, Retail & Consumer Industry, my, retail, media, news
Marks & Spencer no longer immune as Q4 sales drop Tuesday, 17th April 2012
Photo credit: Marks & Spencer
Sales at Marks & Spencer stores open over a year fell 0.7 per cent in the 13 weeks to 31 March, as the UK’s biggest clothing retailer bared the brunt of declined consumer spending.
Perceived by many as a bellwether of British retail, the department store missed analyst forecasts of a rise of 0.4-1.6 per cent, with a consensus of 0.8 per cent, according to Reuters.
General merchandise, which covers the womens, mens and childrens clothing departments, suffered a 2.8 per cent fall in like-for-like sales, although the retailer managed a 1.0 per cent rise in food sales. Total group sales rose 0.8 per cent for the quarter.
"In clothing, menswear, lingerie and kidswear performed strongly," the firm said.
"In womenswear our performance was mixed, with some key areas trading well. However, we performed less well in other areas where we were short of stock in a number of best-selling lines.”
Chief executive Marc Bolland told reporters the retailer sold 100,000 items of knitwear during the fourth quarter, but could have sold 300,000. According to Reuters, M&S will be spending the current quarter strengthening its merchandising capabilities to ensure a strong spring/summer launch.
In light of the results, Bolland said:
“Strategic international markets, including India and China, delivered double digit growth but we continue to experience macro-economic pressure and restructuring in some parts of Europe.
“We have continued to manage costs tightly, and are confident of delivering full year profits in line with expectations. While the short term trading outlook continues to be challenging, we are focused on investing in line with our plan and are making strong progress against our goal of becoming an international, multi-channel retailer.”
Shares fell nearly 3 per cent in light of the announcement, down 10.2 per cent at 357.5p, valuing the business at £5.76 billion.
Posted in Department Stores, fashion, Food, Retail Industry Tagged marks and spencer, m&s, department store, marks & spencer, sales, marc bolland, retailer, clothing, knit, quarter, results, figures
Marks & Spencer no longer immune as Q4 sales drop Tuesday, 17th April 2012
Photo credit: Marks & Spencer
Sales at Marks & Spencer stores open over a year fell 0.7 per cent in the 13 weeks to 31 March, as the UK’s biggest clothing retailer bared the brunt of declined consumer spending.
Perceived by many as a bellwether of British retail, the department store missed analyst forecasts of a rise of 0.4-1.6 per cent, with a consensus of 0.8 per cent, according to Reuters.
General merchandise, which covers the womens, mens and childrens clothing departments, suffered a 2.8 per cent fall in like-for-like sales, although the retailer managed a 1.0 per cent rise in food sales. Total group sales rose 0.8 per cent for the quarter.
"In clothing, menswear, lingerie and kidswear performed strongly," the firm said.
"In womenswear our performance was mixed, with some key areas trading well. However, we performed less well in other areas where we were short of stock in a number of best-selling lines.”
Chief executive Marc Bolland told reporters the retailer sold 100,000 items of knitwear during the fourth quarter, but could have sold 300,000. According to Reuters, M&S will be spending the current quarter strengthening its merchandising capabilities to ensure a strong spring/summer launch.
In light of the results, Bolland said:
“Strategic international markets, including India and China, delivered double digit growth but we continue to experience macro-economic pressure and restructuring in some parts of Europe.
“We have continued to manage costs tightly, and are confident of delivering full year profits in line with expectations. While the short term trading outlook continues to be challenging, we are focused on investing in line with our plan and are making strong progress against our goal of becoming an international, multi-channel retailer.”
Shares fell nearly 3 per cent in light of the announcement, down 10.2 per cent at 357.5p, valuing the business at £5.76 billion.
Posted in Department Stores, fashion, Food, Retail Industry Tagged marks and spencer, m&s, department store, marks & spencer, sales, marc bolland, retailer, clothing, knit, quarter, results, figures
M&S results: food sales to buoy otherwise flat results Monday, 16th April 2012
Photo credit: Marks & Spencer plc
Expect to see strong sales in the department store’s food division offset an otherwise stale fourth quarter.
According to City AM, analysts are forecasting a modest rise in sales at Marks & Spencer for the first three months of the year. It is thought the department store will unveil a 1.6 per cent rise in like-for-like food sales for the period, helping to prop up sales in its general merchandise lines which are thought to remain flat at 0.2 per cent growth from the previous quarter.
Chief executive Marc Bolland will deliver the results on Tuesday, when he is also expected to focus on stronger profits in 2013 as the retailer continues a £600 million revamp of its store network.
Posted in fashion, Food, Department Stores Tagged marks & spencer, m&s, marks and spencer, food, home, fashion, women, results, marc bolland, chief, fourth, quarter, news, tuesday, increase, decrease, rise
M&S results: food sales to buoy otherwise flat results Monday, 16th April 2012
Photo credit: Marks & Spencer plc
Expect to see strong sales in the department store’s food division offset an otherwise stale fourth quarter.
According to City AM, analysts are forecasting a modest rise in sales at Marks & Spencer for the first three months of the year. It is thought the department store will unveil a 1.6 per cent rise in like-for-like food sales for the period, helping to prop up sales in its general merchandise lines which are thought to remain flat at 0.2 per cent growth from the previous quarter.
Chief executive Marc Bolland will deliver the results on Tuesday, when he is also expected to focus on stronger profits in 2013 as the retailer continues a £600 million revamp of its store network.
Posted in fashion, Food, Department Stores Tagged marks & spencer, m&s, marks and spencer, food, home, fashion, women, results, marc bolland, chief, fourth, quarter, news, tuesday, increase, decrease, rise
Topshop and Topman to launch click and collect Friday, 6th April 2012
Photo credit: Topshop s/s '12 campaign
Topman and Topshop will each launch a click and collect service later this year.
Managing director David Shepherd has told reporters that he expects the service to roll out in late May or early June.
In recent months Oasis, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis have launched the service.
Posted in fashion, Fashion News Tagged Topshop, Arcadia, Topman, Oasis, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Fashion, my, retail, media, news
M&S Ireland website announced, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday, 13th March 2012
Photo credit: Marks & Spencer plc
Marks & Spencer is set to launch its second international website this spring, as it goes online for the Republic of Ireland.
For the first time, Irish customers will be able to shop the department store online, with deliveries made direct to their doors.
Jonathan Glenister, Head of Marks & Spencer Ireland, said: “We're proud that over the last 30 years customers across Ireland have grown to know and love M&S. The website has been long awaited and it's great news that customers will soon be able to enjoy the convenience of shopping with M&S at anytime and anywhere.”
The new website will offer fashion exclusives as well as the full range of M&S clothing. Along with the department store’s 21 Irish outlets, the site will feature over 10,000 M&S products, across its womenswear, lingerie, menswear, kidswear and homeware lines.
Posted in Department Stores, E-Commerce, Franchise & Expansion, Online retail Tagged marks & spencer, m&s, department store, retail, myretailmedia, my retail media, womenswear, lingerie, menswear, kidswear, homeware, jonathan glenister, ireland, roi, irish, republic of ireland
Sir David Michels exits Marks & Spencer Monday, 27th February 2012
Photo via MIB Interiors
Marks & Spencer has today announced that Sir David Michels, deputy chairman and senior independent director, is leaving the company on 29 February.
Jan du Plessis will take over as senior independent director on 1 March.
Robert Swannell, Marks & Spencer Chairman said: "On behalf of the M&S Board, I would like to thank David for his great commitment and contribution to M&S, and particularly for his leadership of the Nomination and Governance Committee and his role in ensuring a smooth succession. We are delighted that Jan has agreed to succeed David as Senior Independent Director."
Posted in Food, People Tagged Marks & Spencer, Food, Sir David Michels, Jan du Plessis, HR News, People, Robert Swannell, my, retail, media, news
Sir Stuart Rose condemns Govt work experience saboteurs Monday, 27th February 2012
Sir Stuart Rose, the former chief executive of Marks & Spencer, has defended the Government’s controversial ‘Get Britain Working’ scheme, and accused protestors of trying to “sabotage” retailers’ efforts to offer people work experience.
Speaking on Sky News’ Murnaghan programme on Sunday, Sir Stuart said it was “baffling” that anyone would complain about jobless people being offered roles in the retail industry when youth unemployed remains at a record high.
"We're offering young people the opportunity to really understand what the workplace is about and it appears there is some plan to sabotage this, which I think is nonsense." Sir Stuart told Sky News.
A retail veteran of forty years, Sir Stuart said he began his career stacking shelves and sweeping warehouse floors, adding that these duties were part of working life.
The businessman added that the notion that young people signed up the scheme were being exploited is “nonsense” and “baffling”. He called on retailers to stand up to the saboteurs, and went on to suggest that “one or two of them have shown a little less than backbone.”
Posted in Department Stores, People, Retail Industry Tagged sir stuart rose, sky news, marks & spencer, m&s, retail, industry, get britain working, exploit, nonsense
M&S breathes life into Valentine’s Day ad Thursday, 9th February 2012
Marks & Spencer is hoping to lure men who are on the lookout for Valentine’s Day gift idea to its mobile website with the help of an advertising campaign at Waterloo station.
The department store, famous for its lingerie, has placed a billboard featuring an underwear model next to text reading “Love stuck? Here’s a little Valentine’s help”.
The ad then prompts commuters to download the Aurasma augmented reality app to their smartphone. If a commuter holds their camera up to the model a video then begins to play on their smartphone – a trend which is beginning to emerge at great speed among retailers.
Digital agency Profero conceived the idea and shot the video.
Posted in Advertising Campaigns, Department Stores, fashion Tagged Marks & Spencer, Advertising Campaigns, Fashion, my, retail, media, news, Department Stores, Food
