M+S In Trouble Again

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35249317

I don't shop in M+S anymore. As a bachelor, I find I can get good quality socks and pants elsewhere, for less, and at my age I don't really need many new clothes.

But M+S sinks or swims on its ability to persuade women to buy clothes that they don't need. It was said on the news tonight that it makes hardly any profit from its food, so where does it go from here ?

[Zacs-Master]

It's an anachronism. People want 'designer' and M&S doesn't have any. They need to team up with a few 'brands' like Debenhams have done (Rocha J Rocha / Maine / etc) otherwise they'll sink.

[mikey4444]

Zacs...The world of women's clothes is a foreign place for me and you may well be right.

I was listening to Eddie Mair interview an American woman living in Britain, and she said that she no longer bought clothes in M+S, as they were too "boxy" I have no idea what she meant and I have a suspicion that Mair didn't either, but I expect the Memsahibs did.

[Tilly2]

She means that they all make you look fat and dowdy!

[mikey4444]

Thanks Tilly !

[Tilly2]

....and she's right!

[patsyann]

I find the clothes very bland and the material is not of a quality that it used to be. I have trousers purchased a few years ago well tailored and nice material now they are rubbish. Made in India,China etc etc. I am a lady of 76 years but still like a bit of style. Shame .

[pond50]

They try to cater for younger people who wouldn't been dead in their stores

[mikey4444]

Interesting comments ladies but haven't we heard them all before ?

What I mean to say is that every year or so, for many years, M+S seems to find themselves in this situation. Every now and then a senior Manager falsl on his sword, but 2 years down the line, we are back where we started.

Perhaps M+S are just not relevant anymore ?

In the 60's most men had their underwear bought by a women, from M+S....where else could they be bought ? Most of wollies came from M+S as well, but nobody bought food there.

Tesco was a supermarket selling groceries, by piling them high and selling them cheap. George at ASDA had yet to be invented, and the only other place that competed in the same sphere was the good old Co-op.

Now women can get clothes in 100's of other places on the High St and on line these days. These outlets seem to be able to move with the fashions much more quickly than M+S.

I am going to make a prediction....in 2-3 years time, we will be having the same discussion.

[mikey4444]

For wollies above, read woolies !

[smurfchops]

I am also an older woman and would only buy plain jeans in M&S as anything patterned is so obviously M&S. Their cashmere is far too expensive and their clothes are so dowdy and out dated. I wont even begin to comment on their brash colours. Tone down the colours. Bring down the prices by half and they might see sales rise. Oh and get some young trendy fashion buyers.. Otherwise bye bye M&S ...

[jno]

as I'm not interested in trendy fashion or things that look good on teenagers (or 40-year-olds for that matter), I still ocasionally buy clothes there. I suspect there just aren't enough people like me, though; there's a whole generation or more out there who just have to have designer names.

I still buy food there, though. Good sandwiches.

[rockyracoon]

Some of there clothes are lovely, but, for me , the cut is all wrong. A nice dress or pair of trousers make me look like frumpy, plus there range of longer length stuff is absolutley rubbish.

[Mosaic]

M&S always seems to miss it, either by a little bit or a country mile. Mikey, try Tesco. They can do decent basics like socks and undies.

[Tilly2]

I used to buy my 'work' trousers from M+S. They used to sell Italian wool, tailored trousers. I went to buy a pair of trousers the other week and they are all horrible, shiny, polyester things. Absolute rubbish.

They need to go back to selling good quality stuff.

[DTCwordfan]

the food is excellent and, as I understand it, a good chunk of their profit comes from it, another major stream, certainly from a cashflow aspect, being their property portfolio, something they have always been astute in.

Their new Sparks card is interesting as a marketing tool and that could be a big advantage coming forward, their general merchandising has improved but, like many, they have been caught out by the weather......

[pixie374]

They can't seem to work out which customers they want, so end up doing a hybrid mix of colours and styles that just look cheap. Did buy a handbag from there once.

[DTCwordfan]

For another major brand in sheet's creek without the paddle, look at Austin Reed - they really need a major overhaul as how many women still buy silk clothing and men Vyella shirts....not many.

[DTCwordfan]

Part of their problem is the proliferation of secondary brands in there.....I read somewhere there is seven at least, Collection, Autograph, Twiggy, and Per Una come to mind. Men's is similar.....

[youngmafbog]

M&S refused my credit card when I went to buy a suit 20 odd years ago. Not because my credit was bad but because they only wanted to use their own card. Lady suggested going to cash point and coming back so I left and went elsewhere.

Never been back since. I never liked the store anyway it was only because of my wife I went in the first place.

Where will M+S go from here? I suspect it is a dying store that wont be with us in 10 years time(possibly less).

[ummmm]

M&S and BHS are my first stop shops. I never even entered them when I was younger. M&S have the store set up wrong. If you want to buy PJs or underwear...fine...you know exactly where to look. But if you're looking for a nice top it could be anywhere...