to think we can come up with good ideas to save M&S

[FleurDelacoeur]

M&S definitely on the skids. Profits down, stores closing, Chief Exec saying radical transformation required. Fairly clear that this has happened because they're not listening to their core market, which I'd wager has a fairly large crossover with the MN demographic. So Steve Rowe, if you're listening, here are a few bullet points.

1. Scrap the Sparks card.
2. Sack your womenswear design team. All of them. Now.
3. Ditch the Per Una brand.
4. Rethink your over generous returns policy.

" I tried on some jeans - their size 10s were baggy on me. I wish this was a stealth boast but it’s not, I have a fat arse and massive thighs - the sizing and fit is simply bonkers. "

Vanity sizing is all over the place, but I think in M&S's case it's because of the average age of its customers. The sizes are adjusted for that.

MinisterforCheekyFu.....
M&S cafe - €18 for two coffees and 2 very narrow slices of pre packaged chocolate biscuit cake.
Never again.
In the actual shops the food offerings are very good but in the cafes I think they offer bland, 'plasticised' iykwim food.
And the price of it!!!!!!

I love all per Una clothes but never buy them becuase you can go your grandma's and she is in the same top! My mum says the same she stopped shopping at per Una because it makes her feel old when she sees her mum and her friends in her clothes! We got our Christmas outfits from mark's this year but it is so overpriced Also the coffee shop charged me £7 for a normal coffee and cake! That's more that Costa!

Make the ladies tops and jumpers longer please!
Food nice but so overpriced.
Knickers still the best.
Bras - please do some large cup non wired bras in pretty styles rather than the granny styles you have now.
Kids stuff - school shoes v good. DS has had his since Sept and they are still going strong. Uniform is good quality.
Menswear - DH is in his 50s and wouldn't wear anything from there. Maybe introduce some labels eg Levis, Gant etc?

Why won't they listen?

I often see requests for longer tops and am puzzled by them. At 5,7" I am no short arse and my body is in proportion to my legs. I like my tops/jumpers to end at hip length and never have any problem finding any. Do you all prefer tops that end at thigh length?

M&S cafes are the worst they have ever been. Dreadful food!

They used to be a treat- nice food, bright clean place.

I never eat in their cafes, but the coffee is truly excellent.

Their coffee is the best in Meadowhall IMO.

I'll just keep to the coffee in future then!

Do you mean their bags of ground coffee?

I was in a store the other day and not only had they shoved a cafe in the corner with hardly any seats but it was like a full blown carvery! Ridiculous who wants a roast dinner when they are out shopping.

The coffee you can drink in their coffee shops is delicious. M and S used to sell their cafe coffee in the food department, but they don't seem to any more

I'm not sure they want to be saved.
Every year there is a thread about M&S and what their customers want.
It's free marketing information for management. I'm sure they pay a fortune for customer satisfaction surveys.
Does anyone in M&S management ever read the threads on Mumsnet which has a broad 'membership'. Free information from their customers for management but they never reply or even comment that they have noted our comments.
Any shareholders of M&S on the thread ? Anyone with even a teeny tiny shareholding?