...Marks & Spencer SWOT Analysis Strengths High Quality Products. This is the key strength that makes the company successful. Marks & Spencer is capable of delivering high quality products for food as well as cloth. Its suppliers are required to produce a product that meets a range of quality, safety, environmental, and social standards. Customer Services Marks & Spencer is customer oriented. The company provides superior customer service to customers and always be there if somebody needs help and assistance. This makes Marks & Spencer be able to maintain a good relationship with the customers, and this is critical if the company wants its customers to be loyal to the company. Shopping Environment Marks & Spencer provides customers with a great of shopping experience. By designing a modern concept store, fancy interior, and cleanliness, the company offers the customers with coziness, comfort, and pleasantness when shopping in stores. Commits to Innovations Marks & Spencer focuses on developing innovative products; it is reflected by the fact that 80 percent of its general merchandise products and 30 percent of its food products will be new every season. Environmentally-Concerned Marks & Spencer concerns about the environment problem. The company has developed many strategy and system of its business to address the environmental problem. Marks & Spencer is able to save many dollars, improve efficiency, improve quality, and reduce any waste. Weaknesses Outdated...
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...Part 1 1. Introduction I chose topic 8 because analysis and interpretation of business and financial performance has interested me and I want to learn more about and it is the topic I feel most comfortable with having completed my ACCA studies. Writing reports and analysing business performance was covered in papers F7 and P3 and through this report I will have the opportunity to enforce practically the knowledge acquired. Moreover undertaking this research project will improve my performance at work and enhance my professional and communication skills. I work in accountancy practice and this project will be invaluable experience. I decide to write a research project on Marks & Spencer plc. and the reason being is that I had carried out an investigation on this company before and I have preliminary knowledge on its activities and the sector in which operates. Marks & Spencer is well known and reputable retailer which I personally favour as a customer. Marks and Spencer Group plc. is an international multi-channel retailer with headquarters in London, in the City of Westminster .It carries out the retailing of apparel, home products and food items. It was started as a Penny Bazar 1884 in Leeds selling only British made goods (Enc. Britannica,2004) As of 30 March 2013 the Company’s product were sold through 766 UK stores and 418 stores internationally (www.marksandspencer.com, 2013) 1.1.2 The reason for choosing the John Lewis Plc. as the comparator company John...
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...SWOT ANALYSIS A SWOT analysis or SWOT matrix is a structured planning method used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in a project or in a business venture. A SWOT analysis can be carried out for a product, place, industry or person. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieve that objective. Some authors credit SWOT to Albert Humphrey, who led a convention at the Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International) in the 1960s and 1970s using data from Fortune 500 companies. However, Humphrey himself does not claim the creation of SWOT, so the origin remains obscure. SWOT Analysis includes:- * Strengths: Characteristics of the business or project that give it an advantage over others. * Weaknesses: Characteristics that place the business or project at a disadvantage relative to others * Opportunities: Elements that the project could exploit to its advantage * Threats: Elements in the environment that could cause trouble for the business or project Identification of SWOTs is important because they can inform later steps in planning to achieve the objective. We are doing SWOT analysis of brand ZARA. ZARA SWOT ANALYSIS | STRENGTHS | * Have about 2000+ stores located in leading cities across 88 countries * Part of one of the biggest Spanish retailers in the world * Needs just two weeks...
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...Ethics and Sustainable development Mark&Spencer Plan A analysis Bao Quoc Nguyen Ethics and Sustainable Development Mark and Spencer Plan A with Oxfam Table of Contents MARK & SPENCER PLC ................................................................................................................... 3 COMPANY OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................ 3 BUSINESS DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................................... 3 HISTORY .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 SWOT ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................................ 4 PESTLE ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................................... 5 OUTLINE SOME PROBLEM FACING RETAILERS IN UK .........................................
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...Dr. Andreea AVADANEI Marks&Spencer Report 2011 With a 21 million customers visiting weekly its stores and group revenue of £9.7bn in 2011, Marks&Spencer (M&S) is one of the most important UK retailers. Expanded all across Europe, Asia and Middle East, M&S has a store network of 152 wholly-owned and partlyowned locations and 209 franchises (2011), transforming more and more into a strong international business presence that offers great value clothing, extremely high quality food and a variety of home products. M&S strategy is to become a global multi-channel retailer (Bolland, 2011) in order to reduce its dependency on the UK market conditions and economic climate and to create a powerful brand serving a worldwide customer base. With an extraordinary understanding of customers selective needs based on a complex combination of market analyses and research feedback to identify trends and factors influencing their choices and decisions, M&S provides quality, value and innovation, positioning customers at the heart of the entire business. This report presents an overview of M&S activity and perspectives using a) a comprehensive PESTEL analysis to point out the trends and the environmental influences affecting the business, b) Porter’s five forces framework to explore and evaluate M&S attractiveness, c) a detailed SWOT analysis to highlight the company’ main advantages and hot spots and to identify any opportunity it can capitalize on and challenges that may endanger its future...
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...study on Marks and Spencer which includes: The company at present, Background of the Study, Case Background, Problem, SWOT Analysis, Alternative Courses of Action, Recommendation, Conclusion. A Case Study on Marks and Spencer The Company at Present Marks and Spencer has over 450 stores located throughout the UK, this includes the largest store at Marble Arch, London. In addition, the Company has 150 stores worldwide, including over 130 franchise businesses, operating in 30 countries. Background of the Company * Marks and Spencer (M&S) of Britain (often referred to as Marks & Sparks by locals) is a general retailer that sells clothes, gifts, home furnishings, and foods under the St. Michael trademark in the UK, Europe, the Americas and Far East. * The company also operates financial services segment, which accounted for about 3% of the company’s 1998 profits (Dow Jones Industrial 1999) * Marks & Spencer started as a stall in 1884 by Michael Marks in the Leads market using an L5 loan from a wholesaler * Its philosophy is to sell durable merchandise at a moderate price. It has merchandise made to its specifications. * By 1901, the company acquired 35 Outlets as well as a new partner, Tom Spencer * By 1949 all the company’s stores carried mostly private label (St. Michael) products produced by British suppliers (De Nardi-Cole 1998). Case Background * Britain has often been called a country of shopkeepers, and Marks & Spencer (M&S)...
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...Marks and Spencer IB209 Marketing Analysis Anshul Maini 1036526 Marks and spencer also called as M&S and Marks and Sparks was found in the year 1884 by two people Michael Marks and Tom spencer (Bevan, 2007). Ever since then marks and spencer has delivered goods of the best quality and now to day it stands as one of the best retail chains in the UK. They primarily deal in Clothing and food. The company is headquartered in London, UK and is the one of the biggest companies in the world. It’s ranked #725 in the Forbes 2000 list (Marks and Spencer on Forbes 2000 list, 2011) and is amongst the top 5 retail firms in the country. Currently the chairman of the company is Robert Swanell and the Chief Executive is Marc Bolland. (Annual Report, 2011). Over the years Marks and Spencer has gone through ups and downs. It is the first British Retail firm to make a Profit before tax of over £1 Billion which was in the year 1998.After that the company had hit rock-bottom which was due to heavy competition and the company’s inability to satisfy its customers, it went into heavy losses in its turnover. After amending a few policies and the change of the Chief executive, the company looked more closely at the customer’s needs, wants and demands and modelled their strategies around it, thus rising it from the ashes. However again in 2008, the company went into a credit crunch which was mainly because of the recession. (M&S shares dive on gloomy outlook, 2008) (Bevan, 2007).Although M&S has...
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...Competitive Clothing Market of M&S 3 2.3 The Rationale: Why does HRM Contribute to Increasing Competitiveness? 4 3 Analysis of Current Situation 5 4. Respond to the HRM Weakness 9 5. Evaluation on HRM Approach Implemented by M&S 10 6. Conclusion 11 References 12 1.Introduction In recent business environment, competition has become a core issue due to its crucial impacts on company development in terms of market and profits. This dissertation will introduce proper and effective strategies to overcome the problems so that the company would be turned into higher competitive stance. Additionally, this article aims to analyze the competitive environment from both internal and external of Marks and Spencer plc (M&S), to evaluate the reasons why it has gone wrong ever since 1997 and to identify how the changes of human resources management could help M&S sharpen its competitive edge. This paper is divided into four parts. The first part focuses on the background M&S has been facing ever since 1997 that the company is suffering from a great crisis. The current situation is analyzed in the second part by using the SWOT model to examine the positions and environment of M&S. The third part emphasizes on discussing the human resources management policies that M&S used to respond the weakness discussion during the SWOT analysis. The final part aims to evaluate the HRM responds policy and illustrate the good effects and drawbacks the changes...
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...【Essay Draft】 How effective has the strategy of expanding its food range turned Marks and Spencer into success since 2000. * Introduction In the late 1990s, Marks and Spencer had a sudden decline in its sales. Since then, M&S has devoted itself to expanding their customer base by a range of strategies. In this essay, the strategy of expanding its food section will be focused since 2000. * In the first section: I will focus on what food sector strategy after M&S losing its billions. * Basing on its core values: Quality, Freshness, Value, Standards of innovation, Ethical Sourcing and Healthy eating. * Branded food: reduce the non-M&S branded lines, and introduce another 100 exclusive international food brands. * Plan A sustainability strategy: Since 2007, M&S launched Plan A to inspire their customers and to improve things for the better and act with integrity. * E-Business: encouraging people to buy their products online by developing knowledge and confidence in them. * In the following section: I am going to analyse how these strategies work to M&S. * SWOT analysis: I will operate this analysis to find out the following points of the organization in the market: Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threat. * Stakeholders, Board of Directors, suppliers, customers, employees * Conclusion * Reference 1. Plan A Report 2014 http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/plan-a/b6867fa1340d482da1ebde62c099dd69 2...
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...itself with relative aplomb. The foundation upon which the whole business has rested since its inception in 1884 was in its initial form, involved selling carefully chosen, good quality goods with low margins, and achieving volume sales (relatively speaking, at least) through Michael Marks' Penny Bazaars in the North West of England. This strategy was overwhelmingly successful, and continued to be the central tenet of M&S strategy for many years. M&S sailed through the depression and several recessions, but at the end of the 1990's something went severely wrong. Profits were falling year on year and the footfall in the stores was lower than it had been for several years. From the year of 1991 to 1998 it started to regain its profit again. But from 1999 the situation started to worsen again. This report sets out many of the reasons for that failure then concludes by suggesting and evaluating the strategic options open to the organization going forward. The report concludes that drawing on the substantial capital resources of M&S, brand and product development are the appropriate measures to take in order to put M&S back on the retail map. 1|Page Part 02 Strategic Profile and Case Analysis Purpose Strategic Profile The case study provided several descriptions on the basic elements of the company. It has been described as a company that adheres to top-down management approach compounded by the close supervision provided by its former CEO. This has worked well with the...
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...Strategic Planning of Marks and Spencer Group Executive Summary: In this report a step by step analysis of Marks and Spencer group strategic planning is presented. Mark and Spencer is one of the biggest retail company in UK and leading company producing women apparels. The report is begun with analyzing various external environment of the company that includes STEEP analysis and it helps to understand the external environment of the company. After that the report covers the business plan of the company with its strategic planning section, and how the company is able to implement its strategic planning. Whereas the focus of strategic planning is on the whole organization and the focus of the business plan is on a particular product or service. Contents Executive Summary: 2 Introduction and Company background: 4 Task 1 5 1.1 The importance of external factors affecting Marks and Spencer Group: 5 1.2 Analyze the needs and expectations of stakeholders of Marks and Spencer Group: 7 1.3 Analyze the major changes taking place in the external environment that will affect strategy of M&S: 8 Task 2 8 2.1 Use appropriate tools to analyze the effects of current business plans 8 2.2 Review the position of M&S in its current market 9 2.3 Evaluate the competitive strengths and weaknesses of M&S 10 Task 3 10 3.1 Use modeling tools to develop strategic options for M&S 10 3.2 Develop a comparative understanding of activity from organization...
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...plan for Marc and Spencer Company Name Institution Date Introduction The key ways of ensuring that a company regains its market share, which it had once lost, is by developing a better marketing strategy. Better marketing strategies are developed when a company examines it strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. In this reaction, companies need to change the prices of the goods they sell, consider promotional changes as well as the product changes. In the development of the company, there are benefits and risks involved in the process of market planning. SWOT Analysis Strength In price lowering, a company is expected to reduce the rate it charges for the goods, in this relation, the company has to engage in competition with other companies. Luring customers from their competitors becomes the strategy that company needs to embrace (Patil & Bhakkad, 2014). In this relation, the Marks and Spencer clothing would be able to experience better market share reclamation. Under Bolland, the company would start an overhaul on how it operates on purchase. The company would be able to relieve itself from the aspect of using intermediaries in its transaction. Sacrificing the use of intermediaries in the company would put the company at a risk and give the Marks and Spencer Company an advantage over other companies. The strategy would be focused on cutting out of the intermediaries and working with suppliers. In this relation, the Marks and Spencer clothing company...
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...MARKS AND SPENCER Marks & spencer was founded in the year 1884,it was a private limited company. It has grown with a single market.It was an international and multi channel retailer company where this company sell all stylish, high quality ,home proudcts and all luxurious goods across the world. M&S aims to provides quality and best shopping experience to all the customers. SWOT ANALYSIS OF MARKS & SPENCER STRENGTH: M&S was a reputed company and it has competition in an international market.We deliver quality manufacturing and innovative and unique way of shopping infrastructure. WEAKNESSES: The cost of the products are high compare to other brands and there was a lack of fashionable trends to attract the younger generation of the 21st century.M&S are taking longer time to forecast and bring changes in their business. OPPORTUNITIES: M&S are targeting to linked up or merger with the international companies to grow at the faster rate globally.This company are needed to identify and overcome to attract not only the youngsters but also the older generation. THREATS: Economic changes are slightly down because of the changing needs of the customers.Due to the varities of retail markets the competition level has increased at a higher rate. Customers demand are increasing but somehow they are unwilling to fulfill needs and wants of the customers demands. PEST ANALYSIS OF M&S POLITICAL FACTOR: In modern organization there was a lage affects of the global politics...
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...Literature Review History and Culture It was very common to read about Marks and Spencer as ‘one of the best managed and admired businesses in the world’ (Mellahi et al 2002). The company had enjoyed a great success in the retail sector. Marks and Spencer commenced its business activity in Leeds in the late 19th century, as a family-run shop, with strong values. Since then and for many years after, it became popular for its alternative way of business, in comparison to other British retailers (Mellahi et al 2002). It established a good relationship with customers based on loyalty and trust. The firm also gained high respect from the British people; it was considered the biggest corporate charity donor within the UK (Mellahi et al 2002). Not only consumers, but staff and shareholders could share this great success. According to Wallop (2012) the company has been the most important British clothing retailer for decades, and also the first retailer in the UK to publish annual profits of £ 1bn. Lately Marks and Spencer has undergone a difficult period. The latest management changes have once again disrupted stability. In July 2012, M&S announced widespread changes across the company, including a new head of general merchandise, style director and a new head of food. A number of external and internal factors explain these changes. External Factors Consumer spending & Competition External factors can be described as things affecting the company beyond its control....
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...Introduction Marks and Spencer was described by Tse (1985) to be “ widely recognised as one of the best managed companies in Europe ”. Since the end of the 1990s, they have suffered some serious problems. However, now they are still one of the most successful retailers in the UK, which specialize in clothing, foods and homewares. The company, employing over 81,000 people, headquarters in London. They have more than 700 UK stores and almost 400 international stores across the world. In 2012, the company had an increase in revenues of 2% to £9.9billion. (Marks & Spencer Group 2012) This essay will carry out a company analysis by firstly presenting the key development of M&S and then a SWOT analysis. Finally, several recommendations will be made. Key development M&S was found in 1894 by Michael Marks and Tom Spencer in Leeds. Due to innovative management approaches and quality products, the company expanded quickly and became a public limited company in 1926. By the 1980s, it had been the largest retailer in Britain with more than 260 stores. However, by 1990s, the company had been facing fierce competition, and also its market share in clothing and food dropped dramatically. Moreover, its rigid and out-of-touch management brought M&S into a dangerous situation by the end of 1990s. Its share price tumbled by 4 times from over £0.800 to £0.2 per share in the period between 1998 and 2002. (Yahoo! Finance, 2012) Strengths After experiencing a difficult...
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