M&S is having an identity crisis: Only radical action can save it now July 8, 2014 Thousands of articles have been written about, and just as many reasons given for, the ongoing struggles of Marks & Spencer (M&S). The latest one, given only yesterday by none other than the chief executive himself, Marc Bolland, was the “settling-in” period of the new website. This, of course, is balderdash, or at least peripheral [...]
How could Marks & Spencer improve its website? The web developer’s view July 8, 2014 Marks & Spencer announced today that the new M&S website has failed to perform, with a fall in online sales of 8.1 per cent, and with the development project going over budget by 50 per cent. Since the new site launched in February, customers have taken to the company's Facebook page, Twitter and web forums [...]
Marks & Spencer website nightmare knocks share price: Here’s what the analysts say July 8, 2014 Marks & Spencer's long-awaited website overhaul has failed to perform. The company announced that online sales have dropped by 8.1 per cent in the 13 weeks to 28 June. The retailer excused the performance as a "settling in" of the new M&S.com site, which cost the company £150m. Marc Bolland, M&S chief executive, says that [...]
Marks & Spencer reports 1.5pc fall in underlying sales July 8, 2014 High street retailer Marks & Spencer has released its quarterly figures, revealing a 1.5 per cent fall in underlying sales. The results, which are for the 13 weeks to 28 June, also show that like-for-like sales of clothing fell by 0.6 per cent, marking three straight years of quarterly falls for the division. [...]
Marks & Spencer is preparing to defend clothing to shareholders July 7, 2014 Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland is expected mount a vigorous defence of his turnaround strategy today and insist that its clothing arm is on the mend, despite analysts expecting another fall in general merchandise sales. The retailer is likely to face a grilling from shareholders attending the annual general meeting at Wembley stadium over [...]
London Report: FTSE ends on a high on strong economic data July 2, 2014 Britain’s top share index hit a one-week high yesterday, with upbeat economic data from the US and China improving investor sentiment and boosting cyclical sectors such as banks and miners and carmakers. The FTSE 100 index closed 0.2 per cent firmer at 6,816.37 points, after climbing to a high of 6,829.49, the highest level since [...]
Marks & Spencer reshuffles the pack to bring together website and buildings June 30, 2014 British retailer Marks & Spencer yesterday announced that it would increase the responsibilities of the five key executives under chief executive Marc Bolland as part of a restructuring of its management team aimed at driving greater accountability. As part of the reshuffle, M&S announced that its international director Jan Heere had quit and that [...]
Land Securities buys Bluewater shopping mall stake for £656m June 25, 2014 LAND Securities has bought Lend Lease’s 30 per cent stake in Britain’s fourth largest shopping centre Bluewater for £656m after a heated battle for the site. The acquisition is a coup for property giant, which has been selling several of its regional shopping centres in order to make way for acquisitions in the south east [...]
Male model Oliver Cheshire has the best job in the world June 23, 2014 For Oliver Cheshire, London Collections: Men means the chance to brush shoulders with his heroes. “It was my first ever Hackett show. I was really excited because I love Hackett, but when I got there someone was in my seat. The person turned around and it was Samuel L Jackson. The girls with the clipboards [...]
Blue Inc pulls its float as listing fears spread June 18, 2014 DISCOUNT fashion chain Blue Inc has pulled its £60m flotation plans just weeks after they were announced, after a disappointing performance for London’s recent initial public offerings. The company last night said it would instead proceed with a private share placing with institutional investors, given demand remains strong. On 30 May, Blue Inc had announced [...]