M & S
M & S at Cheshire Oaks, UK
There are six shopping days left until Christmas Day and I have just spent thirty really frustrating minutes on the Mark's & Spencer website trying to buy some final gifts and presents.
Armed with my Visa Card I have made five different selections to purchase only to be notified on each occasion that the item is ‘Out of Stock’. I know it happens at this time of year, of course, people sell out but it does strike me as bizarre that the UK’s largest clothing retailer is unable to take advantage of a customer looking to spend money on-line at Christmas.
Perhaps we should not be surprised that the company posted pre-tax profits of £290m for the six months to the end of September, down 9.7% from the same period last year. Having already implemented a couple of high profile executive level shake-ups, it would appear Chief Executive Marc Bolland continues to face some hefty challenges in improving the store’s overall performance.
Christmas is an excellent opportunity to update your subscription to Commercial Micro Manufacturing magazine to make sure you receive every single one of the cracking six issues we have planned for 2013 in either a print or digital format. I can promise you we are never 'Out of Stock'. Using our new subscription page couldn’t be easier. Simply click on this link and insert your email address to add or amend a free subscription. And rest assured, we will not disclose any of your contact details to any third party without your express permission.
Finally I can candidly disclose that the CMM team joined the Rapid News Communications Group staff for a riotous Christmas party at the Abode Hotel in Chester last week. It is intriguing how those so immersed in the world of the very, very small were able to party so well on a macro scale.
The CMM team would like to wish all our readers a very peaceful and happy holiday season and we look forward to your editorial contributions and comments in 2013.
Happy New Year.
