Strategy Management MARKS & SPENCER: COMPETITIVE ADVANTEGES AND FUTURE STRAGEGIES 1 TABLE OF CONTECTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………………………..3 2. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………3 3. DISCUSSION, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS……………………………………...3 4. CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………….6 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………....8 2 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report will outline Marks and Spencer’s current capabilities by examining the group’s internal environment and competitive advantages. In other to do so, a SWOT analysis will be use. The study of the current situation will produce recommendations for future strategies. 2. INTRODUCTION Marks and Spencer Group (M & S) is an iconic and leading retailer of food, home …show more content…
Long experience in the retail industry. Longstanding partners and alliances after a long history of trade. (Walters, D. and Lancaster, J.,2000) Strategic position in international markets, with potential for network expansion. One example of this expansion is in China. As Szakonyi, M (2011) reports, “M&S’s hub was moved from Hong Kong to mainland China to tap the growth of Chinese retail business and gain cost efficiencies”. M& S international business grew by 5.7% in FY2010 despite the economic crisis (DATAMONITOR 2011). A strong culture of quality, service, and customer focus. Marketing is one of Marks and Spencer most successful strategies. M & S uses celebrity endorsements like Twiggy designing her first fashion collection (International Business , 2012). Also, it is well known for its TV commercials where the company, in order to attract younger customers without losing their client based, puts together more established celebrities alongside with younger models. Weaknesses As food retailer, it is much smaller than the main supermarkets and most of its offering has a very short shelf life in comparison with its competitors (DATAMONITOR 2011). In the current economic climate, price is a very important and convenience means a higher price tag. Food offering cannot compete with the wide range of products other retailers offer. “M&S legacy stores are inconsistent in terms of layout.
New man at M&S looks to reconquer overseas markets and win hearts in home wares – An article by Julia Finch, appeared in The Guardian on November 06, 2010.
M&S are one of the UK's leading retailers of clothes, food, home products and financial services. Some 10 million people shop with us each week in over 375
Technology is very important in the retail market. In order to grow your business, make their business more secure and complete with the competitors, Marks and Spencer has to move along with the new technology. To do this they must manage their brands carefully. Major brand marketers often spend huge amounts on
Marks and Spencer Group (M&S) is the premier retailer in clothing, foods and home ware within the United Kingdom. The company’s commitment to quality, value, service, innovation and trust is a key contributor to their success as a high street retailer in the UK. Their current core UK operations centre around three divisions, food, general merchandise (including clothing and home ware), and the financial services industry. Therefore Tesco plc is the prime UK retailer to analyse and compare growth, financial performance and the financial status of M&S Plc in line with other competitors within the same industry.
Predominantly M&S are known as a clothing retailer but has grown organically into food and furnishings but, market watchers tend to judge their performance on the
This report will demonstrate, apply and evaluate knowledge and understanding of key managerial disciplines of the chosen high street retailer, Marks and Spencer, in different real-world global contexts. According to the report by Deloitte, the retail industry is undergoing immense changes and faces a tough competitive
The threat of substitutes in the food retail industry can be high among the ‘Big Four’ as switching costs are relatively low and products can be similar. However, most have their own private labels and also target slightly different markets, such as Sainsbury’s having more upmarket positioning and Tesco’s cost leadership. Waitrose offers unique and differentiated products, which are, in the eyes of the consumer, significantly superior. No other supermarket offers such premium quality products with great service and such a large range of organic products as Waitrose, so this makes them extremely difficult to substitute. (Euromonitor, 2008).
Marks & Spencer is a large company listed on various stock markets, which a widely spread operations in many countries. The size of operations of the company and high reputation in the
Marks and Spencer (M&S) p.l.c. is one of the largest retailers in the United Kingdom with a selling space of 12.5 million square feet, was established in 1884 as ‘Penny bazaar’. M&S sells clothing, food, footwear, gifts and home furnishings in its 760 stores around the world. The company’s wholly own and franchise stores operates in Europe, Hong Kong, Far East, Australia, Middle East, the Bahamas and Bermuda making a total of 34 countries.
This document/report throws light on the business environment of Marks and Spencers and the analysis of strategic position, strategic direction, success criteria and backed up by future recommendations for the company based on all the mentioned aspects. The frameworks used to analyse the company are:
Marks and Spencer Company is one of the biggest retailers in UK, which it has known by providing the finest qualities of goods and services including clothing, home product, foods and groceries. In currently, M&S Company operates 852 UK stores, 480 international stores and e-commerce platform includes approximately 83,069 employees, while M&S Company is one of the UK’s leading market positions in Menswear, Women-wear and Lingerie products (Mark and Spencer 2016.
* External Context of Sainsbury’s belongs to the biggest supermarket leaders in UK. In other words, Sainsbury’s is part of big four ‘Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s. The biggest rival today in UK market is Morrison’s, they booth fighting for a market but Sainsbury’s ram in a higher place. In Appendix 3, we can find concept of retail and types of functioning.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY3 2.0 INTRODUCTION3 2.1 Background to Organization3 3.0 ANALYSIS3 3.1 Porters 5 Forces (Model of Competition)3 3.2 PESTEL (External Analysis)5 3.3 SWOT6 4.0 KEY FINDINGS OF ANALYSIS/PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION/ KEY STRATEGIC CONCERNS6 4.1 Vertical Integration6 4.2 Diversification7 5.0 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS & STRATEGIES.8 7.0 CONCLUSION9 8.0 APPENDICES11 Appendix 1: Porters 5 Forces11 Appendix 3: Luxury Goods Group & Brands Top Ten Competitors13 Appendix 4: Industry Map*.14 Appendix 5: Financial Performance14 Appendix 6: PESTLE Analysis15 Appendix 7: SWOT Analysis16 Appendix 8: Evaluating industry Attractiveness and Competitive strength19 Appendix 9: A Nine Cell Industry Attractiveness-Competitive Matrix20
Marks and Spencer is one of Britain's most well-known, beloved stores. Within its walls, you can get everything from clothes to quintessentially British food. It is a one-stop shop for many Britons who adore it. Because of its popularity and singular British-ness, the company thought to expand into Western Europe. After all, there were many communities of British expatriates all over the continent who would probably appreciate being able to get a little taste of home in their new locations. You can't buy meat pies and English tea just anywhere, after all.
The early 1990 's marked the beginning of a sea change in customer 's expectations with regard to good quality, healthy food. M&S image as a respectable retailer with its focus on providing a wide range of premium foods meant that the M&S brand, where food was concerned, became regarded as something of a luxury.