Marks and Spencer 2010 Annual Report Download - page 23

Overview p01 
Performance & KPIs p14 
Brand & marketplace p20 
Operating & financial review 
Governance p50 
To find out more, visit marksandspencer.com/annualreport2010 19
Financial statements p78 
Outfit building
Sales of footwear and accessories have
increased during the economic downturn
as women used them as a quick and
easy way to update a tired wardrobe.
We responded to this trend by selling more
of our accessories alongside our clothing
to better show customers how a whole
outfit can be brought together.
Over the last year we have aligned our
branded clothing ranges with footwear and
accessories, making it easier for customers to
build a wardrobe within their favourite brand.
Style credentials
Our style credentials underpin our entire
womenswear range and in the autumn
we took part in Vogue’s Fashion Night Out,
a global event where high fashion met
high street. The year also included our
collaboration with Zandra Rhodes, who
designed two collections for us, based on
the bright prints for which she is best known.
Looking ahead
We are not complacent about our market
leading position and we will continue to
consult our customers to make sure we
are delivering the right products for them.
We will ensure our brands retain distinct
identities, translating them across footwear
and accessories, making it easier
for customers to find the
products they want in store.
The investment we are making
in improving availability will also
help customers find exactly
what they are looking for every
time they shop with us.
The foundations we have
laid mean we are well placed
to capitalise on opportunities
in the womenswear market.
We will build on the success
of Indigo Collection, which
presents a great opportunity
to grow casualwear over the
next 12 months.
We marked our 125th year with our ‘Dress
of the Decade’ campaign, a range of dresses
inspired by our archives and the styles of
bygone years. From Forties inspired polka
dots to Eighties power dressing, we had
something for everyone – proving that style
and quality never goes out of fashion.
Responding to trends
Over the last 12 months we have built on
our successful quick response supply base
in Limited Collection. These improvements
mean we are now able to add further
embellishments as well as finer fabrics and
yarns, bought from the Far East and India.
Collections are regularly refreshed in stores,
keeping our ranges firmly on trend. Our
regional offices in Sri Lanka, India, Hong Kong
and Turkey have played a large part in this
strategy. They have helped streamline the
approval process and enabled us to drive
product development forward.
Better availability
As part of our ‘Every Woman, Every Time’
commitment we want to make sure our
customers can have the product they want,
in the right size, colour and style every time
they shop with M&S. As part of our wider
Business Foundation Programme, discussed
on page 34, we have invested in our stock
management systems. This will help us
improve how we tailor products to individual
stores and therefore improve availability.
VALUE
Left: The year of the leg Hero products don’t
get more heroic than leggings, treggings and
even jeggings. These lycra-based garments have
become wardrobe staples for women of all ages
and shapes. Combining comfort and fashion,
they are a quick fix to update outfits and form
the basis of lots of different looks.
Since the launch of our Oxfam Clothing
Exchange in January 2008 our customers
have recycled over 4 million garments.
The scheme offers donors money-off
vouchers each time they recycle their
M&S clothes at Oxfam and following the
successful launch we have extended the
scheme to include soft furnishings.
PLAN A: SWAP SHOP
For more information about Plan A see
p36 or visitmarksandspencer.com/ plana