M+S Profits Fall...yet Again.

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24815793

It would seem that M+S has lost the touch of persuading women to buy clothes that they don't really need. Good news about food however...overpriced ready meals sales up. You would have thought that if people, mostly women, are not out buying clothes, they might be at home saving even more money by making their families evening meals, but it doesn't look like it !

[emmie]

perhaps it hadn't occurred to you that buying clothes helps our economy, shops provide employment, those people people pay tax, so it's all grist for the mill. And many like myself will donate garments they no longer can get into, that money goes to charities, so helping poorer countries, and charities here, win win. M&S has been losing touch because of the ranges on offer, and sadly some of the problem has been outsourcing their manufacture overseas, goods they sell are not always made as well as they used to be, and sizing of the clothes for men and women has gone the way of the dodo. I could rely on their clothes fitting me, they don't now, so i buy little from them, not to mention their prices have risen considerably too.
by the way many people live alone, and men shop in M&S for food too, perhaps the idea of the little woman of the house cooking the meal for the family is a bit outdated, not a little sexist.

[rockyracoon]

To be honest it's not about buying clothes we don't need (we'll always do that) it's the fact that most of their offerings are frumpy of late. I had a mooch around the website to look for a dress I don't need and out of the hundreds of frocks available there was not one that I would have made the effort to go to a store to try on. Add that into the fact that if you do see something you like, when you get to the store they haven't got it and are not going to get it, "try Bluewater or Oxford St" say the sales assistants, err, no thanks.

[rockyracoon]

Absolutely agree with that Emm, the quality isn't what it used to be, I've noticed that with OH's shirts.

[youngmafbog]

Actually it would appear people are out buying clothes, just now using Primarni as their sales are up so no doubt funding the seat shops of the the East.

It is a shame people see the need to buy ready meals, it is not difficult to do your own but does require some discipline. we have not had ready meals in the house for years.

[ummmm]

M&S is rubbish. The stores make no sense.

They are good for underwear...that's about it.

[youngmafbog]

I stopped buying in M+S when they refused to take a credit cards(unless ti was their own) when I went for a suite. I left the suit and went up the road to a tailors and have never been back, nor shall I.

Yes, I do hold grudges.

[emmie]

they lost their core customers because of the type of clothes being produced, they were also a byword for good customer service and reliability, not so today. I hate being told they don't have the coat/bag or whatever in the store without actually anyone checking, and usually the comment is well you could order, look on line, what if you don't have a computer, they lost me as a customer a long time back, too expensive and often too frumpy.

[woofgang]

I've done quite well in marks both this year and last but then I live in jeans and jumpers and very casual clothes and do mostly shop online. I think the shop layouts are diabolical now, much too crowded and awkward to manoeuvre and I hate the stuff being divided by collection. I want to see all the jeans in one place, ditto the shirts and so on.
I am amazed that they don't give more advertising space to their scarves which I think are one of their best ranges.
I like their ready meals when i don't want to cook........

[emmie]

i won't buy ready meals anywhere, and certainly not prepacked veg, what a waste that is. and most of the packaging can't be recycled.

[Robinia]

I held a 10 year grudge after the naked woman running up the hill advert. Finally I gave in when they started having better products but they've slipped again I haven't seen one single item this year that I liked.

I do like the food though.

[Robinia]

woofy, I found one of their £25 scarves in a local charity shop....for £1! :)

[ummmm]

They do nice sandwich's....

They have their frumpy clothes with their not so frumpy clothes so it makes shopping a chore.

I bought a top from M&S at the beginning of summer. Nice top...but located next to the elasticated trousers. If I didn't have 10 minutes to kill I wouldn't have spotted it...

[emmie]

i don't mind elasticated waisted trousers as long as they are reasonably fashionable, i have some jeans with elasticated waists, they don't look too bad with a nice sweater and good warm jacket.

[ummmm]

That's fine, Em, but they are aimed at a certain age group. Trousers aimed at 40+ next to a top aimed at 20+...

Makes no sense.

[emmie]

generally those trousers are in the Classic range, which is more aimed at the older, mature woman? of course they forget that we are not our much older mothers, and would like to still wear fashionable clothes, for a start i hate anything with a floral pattern, as to cute bunnies and other dross on the pyjamas and slippers is beyond words.

[Gromit]

People are being sqeezed. Wages are not rising but bills are increasing, some such as energy bills well above inflation. So people have less disposable income. These are hard trading times. Clothing items at £50 a go are going to suffer but 2 meals for £10 (not really overpriced) will do well.

Profits are the same as last year, so thete isn't much of a story here.

I'll ignore your sexist and ill thought out final paragraph.

[emmie]

i didn't ignore that final part, perhaps he was making a jest, if not he needs a lesson in home economics.

[ummmm]

I bought a dress from BHS...then went next door to M&S and spent more on socks and boxers than my dress cost...

[Gromit]

Ummmm

You can't wear boxers with a dress. The VPL will be terrible.

[woofgang]

I wish robi, out local charity shop clothing is dreadful.