Honor Westnedge
- Opinion
Comment: Marks & Spencer stores must reflect its fashion-led product
Marks & Spencer’s results show that Bolland’s strategy for turnaround is slowly taking hold, but does the retailer need to take more risks?
- Opinion
Comment: Marks & Spencer should bring edited stores to the UK
As Marks & Spencer’s clothing division achieved its best performance in three years, the focus on enhancing quality and style across womenswear and menswear is starting to pay off.
- Opinion
Comment: Retailers race for a slice of the sportswear market
In just four weeks since the peak Christmas trading period, it is clear that sportswear will be in the retail spotlight in 2014, with both specialists and non-specialists targeting it for growth opportunities.
- Opinion
Comment: John Lewis to grab greater share of overseas spend with airport shop
John Lewis’s move into airport retailing provides it with a huge opportunity to raise its brand profile among international shoppers, making it as much a destination as Selfridges or Harrods.
- Gallery
In pictures: M&S autumn 2013 – Verdict's top picks
Verdict Research senior retail analyst Honor Westnedge selects the highlights from Marks & Spencer’s new Autumn/Winter 2013 seen as crucial to chief executive Marc Bolland’s plans to turnaround its womenswear performance.
- Opinion
Comment: M&S turns on style but can it turn on customers?
Marks & Spencer hosted its much anticipated autumn/winter clothing preview, the first ranges under direction of the new clothing team and perhaps Marc Bolland’s last attempt at turning its general merchandise arm of the business back to growth after seven consecutive quarters of sales decline.
- Opinion
Comment: Republic's downfall highlights the fast changing fashion sector
Republic has sadly entered administration, which is a disappointing turn of events for a retailer that had been gaining clothing market share up until calendar year 2011, but highlights the changing young fashion landscape.