Clothing sales grows 0.2% at retailer M&S

11 Oct '05

3 min read

Leading clothing retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) announced the second quarter trading statement.

UK Retail sales up 3.3 percent: General Merchandise +0.4 percent; Food +6.3 percent; UK Retail like for like sales up 1.3 percent; Full price sales of General Merchandise up 0.4 percent; Unaudited Group profit before tax and exceptionals for the 26 weeks to 1 October 2005 is expected to be at or around the upper end of market expectations.

UK Retail Sales for the 12 weeks to 1 October 2005 were +3.3 percent in total with General Merchandise +0.4 percent and Food +6.3 percent. Within this Clothing was +0.2 percent and Home +2.1 percent.

Like for like sales were up 1.3 percent in total compared with a decrease of 5.4 percent last quarter. General Merchandise like for like sales were down 0.2 percent against a decrease of 11.2 percent last quarter.

The focus is on profitable full price sales, better buying and tight control of stocks and costs. They are committed to offering outstanding value, styling and service in a pleasant environment. They have concentrated on improving values as well as introducing better product and more newness.

Customer reaction to their Autumn ranges has been positive. The focus on rebuilding their Home business is showing through. Food continues to make progress and has delivered another quarter of like for like growth, driven by product innovation and availability. Customer perceptions of product and service have improved. This has been reinforced through their focussed advertising campaign for Food and Womenswear.

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