The sad thing about M&S is that it has almost universal brand recognition, shops that are well sited, a fast growing online presence, loyal staff and a customer base that is fairly well off demographic that really like its food store and café and regularly visit its stores.
Any retailer would give their right arm for that kind of starting position and yet M&S dramatically miss the mark in its clothing department.
I go in every week to shop for food and never visit any other floor.
This might sound bizarre but I suggest M&S look at the classic basic clothes on the Ralph Lauren website and do that in spades but at half the price with good old M&S quality. It can be done.
For men, nice (single) coloured jumpers in wool and cotton, cords, chinos, socks, pants, t shirts, good quality stiff and button down shirts. Quilted coats, raincoats, overcoats, outdoor wear, classic style shoes. Well cut suits and jackets. Stay away from fashion.
Go in a shop in Oxford called Walters on Turl Street. Its all there to copy.
My local M&S on three floors looks like the M&S of my childhood. Nothing has changed. Surely it cant be that hard to deliver from such a good starting point.
The alternative is for another retailer to take it over or continue a long slow decline like Woolworths.