Marks and Spencer Case Study

1.0 Executive Summary

This report will looking into the retail company Marks and Spencer. It will look at how the retailer

determines the cost, look, quality and availability of their clothing. It will focus on the ranges of

clothing they offer including:

 The Classic Range

 The Autograph Range

 The per una Range

With these clothing ranges in mind I will discuss the order winner, qualifiers and also the process

required to produce and sell the clothes within the stores. I will then apply all of this information

to create a table of required information and a polar diagram.

2.0 Introduction

Marks and Spencer is a worldwide retail company that has spent the last 129 years growing into

one of the most profitable retailers in the United Kingdom. They are more commonly known for

retailing food and clothing for wealthier customers so it is often questioned how they manage to

keep up to date with changing trends, on going customer demand and controlling stock. Looking

into their popular clothing ranges per una, autograph and classics will provide answers to some of

these questions.

3.0 Question 1

It is important for any company big or small to manage their costs effectively and efficiently to

increase the investment return. It is therefore important to reduce the cost as early as possible,

this means it has to happen at the design process stage, this would allow very little change to the

quality of an item but a rather large change to the expenditures within a company as large as

Marks and Spencer. The simplest way manufacturers reduce costs is by simplifying the design:

"the more complex the design, the more parts and sub assemblies used, the greater chance of

error during manufacture. The product should be designed so that it is "fit for purpose" and

meets the customers product spec"

By simplifying their designs Marks and Spencer could have their classics range in stores quicker,

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