Shopper Discounts and Rewards – for the latest retail news
This week, the big news for the retail industry has been Marks & Spencer releasing details on its autumn/winter 2013 collection.
The British retail giant has spent six months of customer research and insights gathering, whilst teaming up with new Style Director, Belinda Earl, in order to attempt to revamp the store.
the new range at Marks & Spencer’s
The new range, due to be in stores from July, is said to be crucial for improving reputation, interest and ultimately, sales. The range, whilst current and fashionable, is also said to be support the focus to use high quality fabrics and materials. M&S have claimed that their focus would be on “significant upgrades” in the quality of the fabric and finish.
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Maintaining style and quality is said to also be a key focus area for the Chief Executive Marc Bolland, who is also rumoured to support the launch of a ‘Best of British’ range in store too.
a dip in sales for M&S
The announcement of the new collection and style revamp comes at a time where M&S is fighting reports of poor performance and falling sales. Last month, it reported that general merchandise sales, which include clothing, fell 3.8% in the first three months of 2013. Unfortunately this is the seventh quarter in a row sales have fallen.
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the importance of customer research
John Dixon, Executive Director of General Merchandise at M&S, commented at the launch:
“It is the culmination of six months of extensive research that has seen us listen to our customers’ views on our brand and build on our heritage. This has reinforced that exceptional quality, and confident style should lie at the heart of our clothing proposition and provide the M&S difference that our customers expect from us. This is our focus going forward that will reassert our position as a leading, premium fashion retailer.”
New Style Director, Belinda Earl said to Marie Claire magazine:
“Being part of the team that has really spent time exploring our customers’ needs to rediscover the fashion DNA that makes M&S special and relevant is what excites me about my role as style director. Over the last few months we have learnt that M&S is a brand that should be looking upwards for aspiration and we are determined to do just that.”
How has the new collection been received so far? Well, Marie Claire said this week: “M&S has had a stylish makeover and we are loving it.”
Have you seen the new range? What do you think? Let the Shopper Discounts and Rewards team know today.
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Sources:
M&S tries to lure back shoppers with new fashion ranges: BBC News
Retail Week: in pictures, Marks and Spencer’s new collection
The Big Marks & Spencer Makeover: Marie Claire’s Verdict On The Revamped Autumn/Winter 2013 Collection
