Skip to main content

Marks and Spencer reeling over 'poor quality' fashion slump as chief executive faces pressure to stop the rot



Marks & Spencer is reeling from a strategy disaster of poor-quality clothes aimed at the wrong customers, critics have warned, as the store prepares to register a slump in fashion sales.


Fashion-watchers, rivals and shoppers insisted the group needed to abandon cheap products and aim squarely at Britain’s aspiring middle-class women or risk losing ground.


Chief executive Marc Bolland is likely to face calls from shareholders for quicker action to stop the rot, as forecasters expect the group to report quarterly sales down 4.5 per cent.



Trouble brewing: Marc Bolland, Chief Executive of British retailer Marks and Spencer, at the opening of the store at Westfield Stratford City

The dip will be the sharpest since Bolland took the helm three years ago.


‘Where M&S has gone wrong is that they have tried to be all things to all people,’ said fashion consultant Karen Kay. ‘But they should forget about 20, 30 or 40-something women. It is 50-plus women they need to target.’




One rival retailer declared the group had lost its way by trying to compete on price when it should be aiming to be a premium brand.


‘They compete with Waitrose on food so why are they competing with the cheaper stores on clothing? They can’t win in that market.’



Fashion flop: Children in the M&S Christmas TV advertisement



Backfired: Chief executive Marc Bolland's strategy of selling lower price fashion has not been a success with shoppers who generally view it as a premium brand


And Harold Tillman, former chairman of the British Fashion Council, warned: ‘Sainsbury, Tesco and Asda all do clothing and their reputations are currently stronger than M&S.’


Mr Bolland has moved John Dixon, previously head of M&S’s food business, to take charge of women’s fashion, and he took on Belinda Earl, former boss at Debenhams and Jaeger, to advise on style.


At a London M&S yesterday, older shoppers backed the brand. Viv Harper, 58, from Kent, said: ‘Maybe younger people perceive it as old-fashioned, but not me.’


An M&S spokesman said: ‘Our newly formed general merchandise management team is in place and already working hard on our new strategy for our clothing and home products.’

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o