Partner Article

Sales fall at M&S

Marks & Spencer have published the weakest set of quarterly figures since spring 2005, following a 6.8% drop in non-food sales in Britain.

Womenswear was especially badly hit, following heavy rain and recent merchandising problems. Food sales rose by 2.9%, but this was not enough to offset the slump in general merchandise which resulted in an 0.7% decline.

Marc Bolland, the chief executive of M&S, said: “General Merchandise under-performed in a difficult trading season. We are confident we are taking the necessary steps to address this.”

Following the poor sales figures, executive director of General Merchandise Kate Bostock will be leaving by mutual consent as of October 1 2012.

John Dixon, the current executive director of food will take on her role. He pioneered the successful Dine-in-for-£10 deal, and is widely seen as a “safe pair of hands”.

The figures will now place increasing pressure on chief executive Marc Bolland, who despite being with the company for two years has struggled to prevent a decline in market share of the womenswear market.

Many feel that the range of clothes missed out on this season’s key trends, failing to attract consumers with a small disposable income.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .