Marks and Spencer 2006 Annual Report Download - page 13

11Marks and Spencer Group plc
trend for culottes and city shorts,
transferring fabric originally set aside for
skirts and trousers. Menswear is looking to
use ‘Open To Buy’ in the same way during
2006/07.
Our 55 technologists introduced industry-
leading innovations, including the first
tumble-dryable suit and seamless moulded
bra. We were also the first major UK retailer
to sell Fairtrade cotton products, ‘Real Cool
Cotton’ t-shirts, and ‘Heels with a Secret’ in
women’s footwear. Lingerie greatly
expanded its range of ‘Shapewear’, after
the success of the ‘Magic Knicker’, and is
planning the first co-ordinated range of
mastectomy lingerie. In Home, we
introduced all-weather rattan-style furniture
and will be offering a wipe-clean fabric
across our sofa ranges from autumn 2006.
Our sourcing offices in Hong Kong, India,
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Turkey were up
and running early in 2005/06, allowing us to
source more efficiently and keep a close
check that our strict ethical standards are
being met. They also enable us to buy more
product direct from the manufacturer.
Looking ahead
While we have seen improvements this year,
we still see considerable potential over the
coming 12 months and beyond.
Casual clothing remains the fastest growing
market, in line with increased spending on
holidays and weekends away, and will be a
focus this year.
We introduced new Womenswear denim
shops to all stores in April 2006 with a
broader, more fashionable offer. In
Menswear, we are re-vamping the casual
‘Blue Harbour Vintage’ range to
create a distinct, slightly younger offer to
‘Blue Harbour’.
We will also expand the ‘Maternity’ offer
that we introduced in January 2006 to a full
range from t-shirts to suits.
Our ‘Classic Collection’ will be further
developed using feedback from the special
customer focus group we have established
for the range.
We are repositioning ‘Collezione’ as our
up-market men’s smartwear brand and
rolling out a new men’s shoe shop format
to 25 stores, providing better service and
doubling the choice of shoes in the
same space.
In Lingerie, we will broaden further our
DD-G offer, introducing more styles, as well
as more colours. We will also continue to
add fashionable, trend-led lingerie to our
‘Collections’.
Improving Childrenswear is a key priority,
as some 70% of women aged between
30 and 45, have children. Our restructure,
splitting responsibility for our offer between
our Womenswear and Menswear teams, is
complete and we are working hard to deliver
better product and to provide the different
age groups with an appropriate offer.
Finally, we will continue to provide our
customers with stylish, great value Home
products through our website and improved
catalogue, to build further on the progress
made during 2005/06.
As part of our focus on
casualwear we have added a
casual offer to our ‘Classic
Collection’ to complement our
popular smartwear lines.
In 2006, we will re-vamp ‘Blue
Harbour Vintage’, creating a
more distinct, slightly younger
offer to ‘Blue Harbour’.
FAST FASHION
In November 2005, the
Womenswear team, our new
Turkish office and local
suppliers worked together to
design, buy and deliver a
fast-fashion ‘Limited
Collection Boutique’ range in
less than eight weeks. Buying
at this speed, with product
pre-sorted for stores at
source, means we have a
faster supply of new product.
We now use this process
regularly to design and
deliver ‘Limited Collection
Boutique’ ranges within six
weeks. Men’s ‘Autograph’,
‘Blue Harbour’, and the first
‘Girls Boutique’ range have
also used this supply technique
in 2005/06.