Marks and Spencer is one of the most profitable companies in the United Kingdom and across the globe. Marks and Spencer (M&S) has a tough and competitive external environment. According to analysts, M&S has been favourably affected by the European Commissions free trade agreements which have made product imports much easier (EC, 2013) and have led to a decrease in sourcing costs. Increasing terrorism attacks across Europe are also impacting consumer confidence and retail spending (Marks & Spencer, 2016). Today, M&S has over 700 shopping outlets in the United Kingdom. In this section, the discussion would be on the following key points: Financial Resources Human Resources Company Image Learning and development Location The company is today operating in a competitive environment. However, the major threat is from terrorism. Worth, R 2007, Fashion for the People: A History of Clothing at Marks & Spencer, Longman, London. Differentiated strategy refers to a strategy adopted to make a difference between an enterprise product and a competitor product and to form a distinctive feature. The matrix helps the business managers make the best decisions based on the companys products, market share, and consumer expectations. Web1. The company is required to worker harder in order to provide better products to its consumers (Bevan, 2008). Retrieved July 2016, from The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/mar/07/marks-and-spencer-bankcurrent-account, Krish, M. (2012, January 19). With proper management, the company can succeed in this economy. M&S redesigns its products and marketing processes in order to achieve the best outcomes. The company has its main presence in UK where it operates over 700 stores. At the same time, the company has failed to change its business strategy in order to remain competitive in the industry. It is expected to source sixty-five per cent of its inventory from direct vendors (OReilly, 2010). In 2015, M&S experienced stalled growth in its international business due to global uncertainties, substandard infrastructure and decreased profitability in new markets which lead to the closing of twelve stores in 2016. Losing access to the common market will affect supply chains, the free movement of people, IP rights, international contracts and more. Otherwise, competitors can easily gain market share and quickly weaken the position of companies adopting this strategy. This explains why there are minimum threats from new entrants into the market. As well, different food chains and restaurants such as Wal-Mart, Tesco, and Sainsbury are providing affordable and quality food products to their consumers. To achieve differentiated marketing, the marketing strategy is mainly based on the following four aspects: first, to understand the composition of the customer base; second, to understand the needs of the customer base; third, to promote effective sales; fourth, to provide customers with unique shopping service. Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, Continuing to use IvyPanda you agree to our, Strategic Analysis of a Company and its Competitive Environment, United Arab Emirates Public Library and Cultural Center Risk Management Plan, Marks and Spencer: Standard to Which Other Companies Look to, Marks and Spencer (M&S): Aspects Analysis, Marks & Spencer Company: Internationalisation Strategies, Marks & Spencer Company's Strategic Planning. As regards the companys food business, of the four big supermarkets in the British market Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons Tesco and Sainsburys have already developed a high quality range of foods which were previously considered a traditional market for M&S (Ruddick, 2013). Quality and care are at the heart of everything we do especially when it comes to making our products. 5. Reuters. Marks & Spencer is one of the largest retail chains in the world and its presence across the globe continuously strives for excellence and innovation through providing quality products and services in accordance with the demands and expectations of valued customers. M&S has been affected by the recession and has seen a big slump in sales in 2009, a fouryear decline in its clothing sales and most recently, a ten-year low in its clothing sales in the second quarter of 2016 (Davey, 2016). The company has its main presence in UK where it operates over 700 stores. Due to corporate culture chaos, lack of organisational arrangements, and incentives for conflicts, companies caught in the middle may suffer greater losses. Managing Organizational Change by Graetz, F., Rimmer, M., Lawrence, A. and Smith, A. Apple Inc Market Entry Audit: The Entry of Apple Inc Into a New Market With an Existing Product or Service. The shopping experience is now largely seamless through the integration of online, tablet, mobile and the physical experience in the shop (TaylorWessing, 2015). Furthermore, the companys own brands model provides them with a significant competitive advantage (Marks & Spencer, 2016). In addition, the competitive retailing landscape is going through another major transformation the steady rise of online and catalogue shopping and competitors offering goods of almost the same quality at affordable prices as well as convenient and enhanced in-store experiences for customers (Retail Week, 2016). Focused strategy refers to strategy in which a companys business activities are concentrated on a particular group of buyers, a certain part of a product line, or a regional market. However, in 20142015 the company experienced difficulties in marrying its online operations and distribution from its Castle Donington centre. M&S offers customers a perceived added value at the same and slightly higher price than the competition, with the aim of gaining more market share by offering better products and services or increasing revenues at slightly higher prices. (2021, Aug 31). Applying this strategy in M&S, they are not like traditional retailers, Marks & Spencer stores sell their products, whether they are clothing or food, all with their own brands, and use only one unified brand St. Michaels, that is, M&S does not provide consumers the opportunities with brand choices, consumers either afford to buy St. Michaels products or go to other stores to buy other brands. Compare to the other supermarket in the UK, Aldi turns to use another supplier which are not famous or common in order to lower their cost of operation. With the company operating in many countries today, there is need to address such factors and consumer expectations (Burns, 2008). In its clothing business, it has introduced free delivery for purchases above 50, free next day store collection and free returns by post or in store up to 35 days after purchase. Retrieved July 2016, from European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap/about-ecoinnovation/business-fundings/united-kingdom/488_en.htm. This explains why the company has a growing market share (Williamson & Jenkins, 2013). 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The company is today operating in a competitive environment. However, the major threat is from terrorism. Worth, R 2007, Fashion for the People: A History of Clothing at Marks & Spencer, Longman, London. 
Differentiated strategy refers to a strategy adopted to make a difference between an enterprise product and a competitor product and to form a distinctive feature. The matrix helps the business managers make the best decisions based on the companys products, market share, and consumer expectations. Web1. The company is required to worker harder in order to provide better products to its consumers (Bevan, 2008). Retrieved July 2016, from The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/mar/07/marks-and-spencer-bankcurrent-account, Krish, M. (2012, January 19). With proper management, the company can succeed in this economy. M&S redesigns its products and marketing processes in order to achieve the best outcomes. The company has its main presence in UK where it operates over 700 stores. At the same time, the company has failed to change its business strategy in order to remain competitive in the industry. 
It is expected to source sixty-five per cent of its inventory from direct vendors (OReilly, 2010). In 2015, M&S experienced stalled growth in its international business due to global uncertainties, substandard infrastructure and decreased profitability in new markets which lead to the closing of twelve stores in 2016. Losing access to the common market will affect supply chains, the free movement of people, IP rights, international contracts and more. Otherwise, competitors can easily gain market share and quickly weaken the position of companies adopting this strategy. This explains why there are minimum threats from new entrants into the market. As well, different food chains and restaurants such as Wal-Mart, Tesco, and Sainsbury are providing affordable and quality food products to their consumers. To achieve differentiated marketing, the marketing strategy is mainly based on the following four aspects: first, to understand the composition of the customer base; second, to understand the needs of the customer base; third, to promote effective sales; fourth, to provide customers with unique shopping service. Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, Continuing to use IvyPanda you agree to our, Strategic Analysis of a Company and its Competitive Environment, United Arab Emirates Public Library and Cultural Center Risk Management Plan, Marks and Spencer: Standard to Which Other Companies Look to, Marks and Spencer (M&S): Aspects Analysis, Marks & Spencer Company: Internationalisation Strategies, Marks & Spencer Company's Strategic Planning. As regards the companys food business, of the four big supermarkets in the British market Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons Tesco and Sainsburys have already developed a high quality range of foods which were previously considered a traditional market for M&S (Ruddick, 2013). Quality and care are at the heart of everything we do especially when it comes to making our products. 5. Reuters. Marks & Spencer is one of the largest retail chains in the world and its presence across the globe continuously strives for excellence and innovation through providing quality products and services in accordance with the demands and expectations of valued customers. M&S has been affected by the recession and has seen a big slump in sales in 2009, a fouryear decline in its clothing sales and most recently, a ten-year low in its clothing sales in the second quarter of 2016 (Davey, 2016). The company has its main presence in UK where it operates over 700 stores. Due to corporate culture chaos, lack of organisational arrangements, and incentives for conflicts, companies caught in the middle may suffer greater losses. Managing Organizational Change by Graetz, F., Rimmer, M., Lawrence, A. and Smith, A. Apple Inc Market Entry Audit: The Entry of Apple Inc Into a New Market With an Existing Product or Service. 
The shopping experience is now largely seamless through the integration of online, tablet, mobile and the physical experience in the shop (TaylorWessing, 2015). Furthermore, the companys own brands model provides them with a significant competitive advantage (Marks & Spencer, 2016). In addition, the competitive retailing landscape is going through another major transformation the steady rise of online and catalogue shopping and competitors offering goods of almost the same quality at affordable prices as well as convenient and enhanced in-store experiences for customers (Retail Week, 2016). Focused strategy refers to strategy in which a companys business activities are concentrated on a particular group of buyers, a certain part of a product line, or a regional market. However, in 20142015 the company experienced difficulties in marrying its online operations and distribution from its Castle Donington centre. M&S offers customers a perceived added value at the same and slightly higher price than the competition, with the aim of gaining more market share by offering better products and services or increasing revenues at slightly higher prices. (2021, Aug 31). Applying this strategy in M&S, they are not like traditional retailers, Marks & Spencer stores sell their products, whether they are clothing or food, all with their own brands, and use only one unified brand St. Michaels, that is, M&S does not provide consumers the opportunities with brand choices, consumers either afford to buy St. Michaels products or go to other stores to buy other brands. 
Compare to the other supermarket in the UK, Aldi turns to use another supplier which are not famous or common in order to lower their cost of operation. With the company operating in many countries today, there is need to address such factors and consumer expectations (Burns, 2008). In its clothing business, it has introduced free delivery for purchases above 50, free next day store collection and free returns by post or in store up to 35 days after purchase. Retrieved July 2016, from European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap/about-ecoinnovation/business-fundings/united-kingdom/488_en.htm. This explains why the company has a growing market share (Williamson & Jenkins, 2013). "),c=g;a[0]in c||!c.execScript||c.execScript("var "+a[0]);for(var e;a.length&&(e=a.shift());)a.length||void 0===d?c[e]?c=c[e]:c=c[e]={}:c[e]=d};var l=function(b){var d=b.length;if(0
