Marks & Spencer saw pretax profit plunge almost
16 per cent from £780.6 million last year, to £658.0
million in the year ended 31st March. Despite the decline, chief
executive Marc Bolland said the business performed well in a
challenging economic climate, “growing group sales by 2
per cent and holding market share”. He added, “We are
well on track to become a truly international multichannel
retailer” and said that by the end of the current fiscal
year, Marks & Spencer will be trading from 10 websites worldwide
and opening around 100 international stores per year.
Multichannel was also a bright spot, with direct sales up 18
per cent to £559 million. On average, M&S receive 3.4 million
weekly visitors, 11 per cent up on last year, while its mobile
site experienced a 300 per cent growth in visits on last year.
With just four days left until the deadline, nearly three in five
(57 per cent) of marketers have failed to develop and execute an
action plan to deal with the impact of the cookie law. New
research by the Direct Marketing Association also revealed that
45 per cent have yet to draft an updated cookie policy; and 79
per cent have not communicated the changes they are planning to
make to their website’s visitors. Not surprising then that 47
per cent of marketers say that they aren’t confident their efforts
to gain consumer consent to place cookies on their devices will
meet the new requirements of the ePrivacy Directive.
Consumer exhibition the Ideal Home Show has made
its first foray into eCommerce with the launch of its new
website. The Ideal Home Show Online Shop showcases more than
1,000 carefully selected products including indoor and outdoor
furniture, homewares, garden gadgets and tools, and gifts.
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