Marks & Spencer’s Clothing & Home sales have grown by 3.8%, driven by online sales, as well as a new emphasis on highlighting ‘trusted value,’ which includes the expansion of the ‘Remarksable’ label to Home ranges. Announcing the retailer’s full year-end results to April 5, M&S ceo Steve Rowe emphasises that Clothing & Home is “on track for a more profitable model capable of growth.”
The rise of online sales and acceleration of trade away from high streets and city centre stores during the pandemic has precipitated the need to reduce Clothing & Home trading space, confirms Steve. He highlights that: “a high proportion” of new stores will be on edge of town locations.
“We are now developing a growing pipeline of store relocations, moving to modern well-located sites,” elaborates Steve. Some 32 stores are marked for closure, while 15 new full-line stores are due to open over the next three years (including seven former Debenhams sites), plus around 40 new Food stores, many offering a Click and Collect service for Home products.
Meanwhile the introduction of third partner brands in Home are “providing broader choices to our customers,” states Steve.
Above: M&S at Kingsley Village Retail Park, St Columb.
