I have quite a high disposable income and I would like pure wool trousers. There were none this winter. I am prepared to pay good money but have to go elsewhere.
I do realise, however, I’m in a minority! Most people will not pay! You only have to look at the wildly varying opinions on any M&S thread to know no one is pleased by many of their offerings!
I thought Per Una had improved. Says me who is currently wearing excellent cotton chinos from that range! They also have very many midi dresses. I bought a fantastic unlined coat in the winter too and I’ve found decent basics.
However you cannot fill giant stores with basics and one or two special ranges each year! Who on earth could sustain that business right now? The shops are too big. Choice is too much and few people under 35 go near it.
Uniqlo is tiny in this country by comparison. You just cannot compare the size of that business in this country with M&S. The competition is huge and fast moving. M&S don’t get trends out in the shops quickly enough. They need to “copy” the catwalks quickly but with wearable clothes for special ranges. The boho floral and stripes look is big this summer but M&S needed to get them out quickly. Many have come on line now - in mid July!
Nearly every high street clothes shop is struggling if it’s mid to high price. Jaeger, LK Bennett and many others have problems. M&S cannot afford to go expensive in this market. They tried with their up market Made in Uk range (or what’re it was called) from premium fabrics and look what happened to that! Utterly trashed on MN when a M&S executive came on to talk about it. I like British made tweeds, high quality cotton, pure wool and silk but you have to pay a lot for it. So M&S will never please all of the people all of the time ever again! It’s impossible.