M&s closures

[Raver84]

Feel sorry for the staff who will loose their jobs but does anyone shop regularly in there? The fashion is dire, the shoes mostly hiddious. I'm in my 30s so prob not the target but as a parent i think their children stuff is quite old fashioned and over priced for basics like t shirts and pjs.
The toys section is stuff that older people think children 'should' like such as patchwork knitted dolls and wooden tat. Lots of 'sensible' toys. Albeit would look nice in a show home, no children play with this do they or would love it as a gift?

If it were to leave the high street would you miss it? I like the food and the tights, but that's all. The hand bags are also ok ish.

Their clothing is seriously expensive and the quality has gone down the toilet. They just aren't competing with other shops now, so i'm not surprised. A bit saddened because it's not rocket science.

I was in our local one thus morning to collect some School shorts for DS that I had ordered online. I was the youngest person in there and I’m mid 40s. There was literally not 1 thing I would have taken if they were giving it away free.
However, I do love the Autograph nail varnishes and some of the beauty stuff they do in larger stores

I do not blame the staff but it seems that yet again, senior management have failed to listen to either them or their core customers.

Stores that will close or are proposed for closure in 2018-19:-

Bayswater (Simply Food), London
Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
Darlington, County Durham
East Kilbride, Scotland
Falkirk, Scotland
Fleetwood (outlet), Lancashire
Holloway Road, north London
Kettering, Northamptonshire
Newton Abbot (outlet), Devon
Newmarket, Suffolk
New Mersey Speke, Merseyside
Northampton, east Midlands
Stockton, County Durham
Walsall, West Midlands

They have proper decent high rise jeans with a bit of stretch in larger sizes - one's that look like proper jeans for ordinary people instead of looking "plus sized".

DH and I are probably M&S target market because we are baby boomers. We have the money to spend but there is nothing we want to buy in their clothing ranges. It’s amazing how good their food is compared to the clothes!

I would be sad if they closed, but I don't buy a lot from there. Kids t shirts, undies, jeans and pjs, and apart from that just the occasional grocery shop. They don't make a lot of money from me, so I suppose if everyone did the same and treated it as an occasional shop, it won't do so well.

I get all the school uniform in there, that would be a shame to lose as the quality is better than most shops, but again that's only an occasional thing.

Does anyone know what will happen to staff in stores which aren't closing? Will they be made redundant to make way for staff redeployed from elsewhere?

Phew none near me closing.

They do seem to have lost their way, as another poster said. I used to rely on it for basics like underwear, tops and shoes ( their trousers have never fitted me well) but now I get those things from Sainsbury’s or John Lewis. And the quality control isn’t there - very inconsistent sizing, even within the same model. Atm I am wearing a very old M& S plain black T shirt - about 12 years old. Still a good colour and shape. Bought its equivalent last year and it just didn’t wash and wear well at all. Cost about the same ( price for price, so much less expensive in real terms) so maybe that is part of the problem - keeping prices down to the more budget end of the market and compromising in quality.

Having said that, I have bought a great dress for a wedding that is very, very similar to one I tried on in a ridiculously priced ocasionwear boutiquute. Nice quality and cut for a fraction of the price. Was tucked away and badly displayed amongst a load of truly hideous frocks that must be headed straight to the sale rail.

The food is good.

I buy school uniform there, but noticed the last school cardigans were significantly poorer quality than the stuff from the year before - thin, shapeless, already bobbly, whereas the previous ones still looking smart and new passed down to my youngest. So I am now a bit put off and favouring Sainsbury's instead.

I like their children's pyjamas and socks, but have struggled to find anything else I liked recently - I prefer John Lewis.

DH would probably happily shop there for jumpers/shirts/trousers/socks etc.

i buy school uniform, socks, pants (for the kids) and sometimes school coats and food from marks and sparks.

Their kids clothes are dreadful (dd is 11 Ds is 8)
their adult clothes, the things I'd want to buy (basic knitwear/vest tops/pants/work stuff) is all dreadful. They lost their way some time ago and seem to have not given a monkeys since they did.

I switched to buying all my beauty products (Ren, Dr Hauschka etc) from M and S when John Lewis started charging for click and collect. Their customer service is excellent.

One M&S local to my work is on te list for closure.

I went in there one afternoon (toilet) and it was so quiet, I could hear my lone footsteps going all the way from the front to the back of the store.

It was excruciating.

I'm sad, but not surprised. 😢

I’m 30. I buy underwear there, and some work clothes (mainly black trousers, jackets, etc).

I’ve also found some lovely things for DS- but a lot of their children’s clothes are over priced.

I use M&S food regularly, once or twice a week. Cards and Flowers are good also. Would be gutted if the food got closed down and feel sad for staff affected too.

Clothes wise would have thought I was target audience, late 30's, size 14 woman, but can't remember the last time I brought clothes from there. Joules, Mint Velvet, Boden, Sea Salt customer.

Poor quality, poor fit or expensive. Some is just utterly hideous. Who ever designs/buys them needs to go to specs savers. Even when something looks nice at a distance there is some weird shit bow, tassel or sequin lurking up close.

their basic bland clothes are great
food - meh - over packaged and overpriced, but some nice ready meals for a change

I find m&s really good for petite trousers. I buy all my work trousers, jeans and yoga pants from there, as well as knickers and socks. I'm 30 btw
Our local outlet store is closing. My dad won't be happy. He loves buying bargain shirts from there.

I nip into buy food as it’s on way home from work but the clothing is a disaster so I’m not surprised about the closures. If they’re not careful, they will go the same way as many other retailers and disappear totally.

I'm in my 20s and shop there fairly regularly! From work clothes to basics like knickers and tights etc. Food is great and children's clothes are beautiful. Homeware dept is nice too! Hoping we don't lose ours!

I used to buy my underwear there but the last pants I bought were a slightly different shape than they used to be

And THINNER :(

I’m early 40s.
Last year I got a whole bunch of simple cotton dresses in the swimwear section which were brilliant for holiday and super cheap, I couldn’t believe it.
I rely on them for leggings, knickers and socks.
But most the clothing is grim and random.

In my 20s they were great for workwear but they still have the same suits 20 years later, but now in terrible shiny fabric that you know will stink after 30seconds on the tube.

I wish M&S senior management could come on here for a web chat and we could explain what we want M&S to do and they could explain why that's not possible. Because it beats me why they put expensive frills and lacy bits on a perfectly nice pair of jeans and are then surprised that no-pne wants to wear them

I’m a weirdo, by the sounds of it. I LOVE their traditional toys and children’s clothing