So, The Begining Of The End For Marks And Sparks?

[youngmafbog]

Not looking good, will they turn it around or go the way of the rest of them?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5756791/Marks-Spencer-announces-close-100-stores-2022.html

[ToraToraTora]

I think the numbers actually going shopping is declining in the wake of amazon, Ebay et al. I know I hardly ever go to store these days. I don't see how any of them can survive long term. The bespoke shopping centres with parking will keep going for now but the High st will become a mass of chirridee shops, bookies and battle cruisers.

[RATTER15]

I agree!

[jackthehat]

M&S shot themselves in the foot several years ago and haven't seemed minded to take any remedial action.

They had a very loyal 'particular' customer-base. Then they went off chasing the 'high-fashion' and 'youth' end of the market believing it to be more lucrative.

There was no longer much for the 'purple-rinse' (for want of a better description) to buy.......and the M&S didn't even feature on the radar of the Fashionistas and youngsters.

[jackthehat]

This isn't Chatterbank, spath......

[hereIam]

The one in my town closed about a year ago and I really miss it. Really hate the way town centres are changing.

[EDDIE51]

People go to a 'real' shop to look at the merchandise and even ,in the case of clothes, to try them on and find the right size. Then go online and buy the same thing for half the price. M&S have always had a reputation for 'high end' items with a price to match. Now people want cheap mass produced items. Rivals like Matalan are taking over. Cheap and cheerful is the way now.

[Jackdaw33]

It will not be the first big name with a long history to go west. Remember when every High Street boasted a Woolworth's?

[Hopkirk]

This isn't the beginning of the end.

The graph has being heading downwards for years.

Do you remember that years ago they used to boast that 90 % of their clothes were made in the UK?

[youngmafbog]

//People go to a 'real' shop to look at the merchandise and even ,in the case of clothes, to try them on and find the right size. Then go online and buy the same thing for half the price.//

I am not sure that statement is true. If you try something on in a shop then it is usually the same price on line. If you go to another shop it will not be the right item. What you say may hold for some things like electricals but even then Curry's are very competitive online these days so not sure of the gain anymore.

M&S do seem to have had a real problem finding their customer base just as JTH's post above.

[maggiebee]

We're all doomed I tell ye - doomed!

[hc4361]

I used to shop in M&S a lot because it was one of the very few High St chains that sold trousers in 33" leg with a small waist and shirts with a choice of long sleeves.
That is no longer the case and I haven't shopped there for years, although my wife does occasionally

[-SharonA-]

And Tesco is closing down their Tesco Direct completely!

[hereIam]

I used to like it for gifts at Christmas and sometimes I'd food shop there for a change, but I can't do that now. I really miss it!

[hc4361]

I'm not surprised about Tesco Direct

[youngmafbog]

Perhaps that is the problem hereIam, they are only attracting the very occasional shopper and in that line of business it is not enough to pay the extortion rates lets alone staff, rent etc.

[hereIam]

Maybe ymb, but whenever I was in there, the queues were massive and the staff seemed busy, no-one ever stood about with nothing to do.

[ToraToraTora]

bought my first whistle at M&S, when I was interviewing employers, 3 piece pin stripe, great quality, gave it to chiridee in the end, never wore out. They were one of the few places where you could pick a jacket trousers and waist coat all separately and make suit up that fitted perfectly almost as good as made to measure.

[hellywelly4]

My generation - born in the 40s - were always very loyal to Marks. Then they tried to go after the younger market and left us high and dry. The quality deteriorated too. I remember a visit to a Marks store in Reading in the 80s and we were so excited and spent nearly the whole day there. Now all I get when I visit a store is a feeling of disappointment because they don't cater for me any more.

[andy-hughes]

The arrival of online shopping has decreed a sea change in the way retailing works.

High street shops are in decline, and will eventually cease to exist, because that is what market forces decree.

In the same way that tailors don't sit cross-legged in their shop windows sewing all day, so retail clothing stores will eventually cease to exist. It may not suit everyone, but market forces dictate, they always have and they always will.