BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT INTRODUCTION 1 MAIN BODY1 CONCLUSION 9 REFERENCES 9 INTRODUCTION Business Environment

BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Business Environment is the collection of internal as well as external factors which
primarily includes employees, supply, demand, customers’ needs as well as their expectation.
Furthermore, it also includes activities which are undertaken by government in order to
understand social trends prevailing in the market and several other factors. These factors affect
the overall functioning of an organisation and determines how a company actually carry out its
business related activities (Battisti and Deakins, 2017). However, business environment helps in
identifying the several opportunities which the company can adopt in order to improve its overall
performance, profitability and growth of business. This report is based on Marks & Spencer
which is a British multinational retailer organisation. It was founded by Michael Marks in 1884.
The company is specialised in selling out high quality clothing, food products as well as home
based products. Moreover, the outcome of this report will be based on structure which the
respective company follows, effects of external environment factors.
MAIN BODY
Overview of the company:
Marks & Spencer Plc is a British based retailer. The company was founded by Michael
Marks and Thomas Spencer in the year 1884. It is headquartered in Westminster, London. M&S
is a public limited company. Moreover, the company is also listed on London stock exchange.
Marks & Spencer primarily deals in providing high quality clothing, foods and home based
products online as well as on offline platforms. Furthermore, food provided by Marks & Spencer
is known for quality, freshness and innovation credentials. Clothing and home based products are
wearable, contemporary style at great value. Some of the most common brands of the company
are classic, per una, autograph, M&S collection and many others. The company also provide a
range of financial services which also includes current and saving account, insurance as well as
mortgages. M&S bank also provides credit cards. It operates its business operation in two
segments that is UK marketing and internationally. M&S carry out is business operation through
franchising. Currently the company has around 1463 stores which are spread all around the
world. M&S has a total number of 80787 employees who operates the company business
operations in several parts of the world (Boddewyn, 2016). The retailer organisation is market
leader under UK market.
1

History
Marks & Spencer business operation was started in 1884 by two partners namely:
Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. The company's business operation of the company was
started as Penny Bazaar. M&S opened its first Asian store in Afghanistan 1960. Furthermore, it
also expanded its business operation in Canada in 1973. The stores under Canadian market were
smaller as compared to British outlets. Unprofitable stores of M&S were closes. In 1999 the
company opened its online shopping website. Furthermore, in 2001 M&S first simply food stores
were opened in Twickenhan and Surbiton which was designed by George Davis. In 2016 Marks
& Spencer expanded its business operation under European market (Chaffey, Hemphill and
Edmundson, 2015).
Members of Marks & Spencer on board
Name Designation
Archie Norman Chairman of Marks & Spencer
He was appointed as the in September 2017.
Archie has great experience with regard to
retail organisation.
Steve Rowe Chief executive of Marks & Spencer
He has extensive experience across several
field under Marks & Spencer. In January 2016
he was given the post of Chief executive. He is
under the operating committee.
Humphrey Singer Chief finance officer of M&S
He was given this post in July 2018.
Andy Halfordmembers on board Senior Independent director of M&S
He was appointed in January 2013 who has a
very strong finance background.
Stuart Machin Food managing director of the company
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