Impact of COVID-19 on Retail Industry: A Case Study on Marks & Spencer

Final project reports

Contents
TITLE: Impact of covid-19 on retail industry.................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of study....................................................................................................................1
Rationale of study........................................................................................................................1
Aim of study................................................................................................................................1
Research objectives.....................................................................................................................1
Research questions.......................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................2
To analyse the impact of COVID-19 on retail business..............................................................2
To determine the effect of COVID -19 on performance and productivity of Marks & Spencer.2
To evaluate the various difficulties faced by Marks & Spencer because of COVID-19.............2
To analyse the different strategies adapted through Marks & Spencer in order to deal with
various challenges raise because of COVID-19 pandemic situation...........................................3
RESERACH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................3
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION......................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION..............................................................................6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................6
Recommendation.........................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

TITLE: Impact of covid-19 on retail industry.
INTRODUCTION
Background of study
At current times, COVID-19 has huge impacts upon business across the world. Moreover, the
global pandemic has pessimistic effects upon retail firms as well as most of them is not become
competent for operating appropriately and effectively (Bui and et. al., 2021). In addition to this,
there are various problems faced by retail business due to COVID-19 pandemic situation like
reduction in sales, lack of personnel, changes into consumer’s demand and others. The topics
which are going to be discussed in this project are study rationale, aim, objectives, questions,
literature review and research methodology. Apart from this, result & discussion as well as
recommendations are also provided in this project.
Rationale of study
The key aim of performing the particular study is to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on
retail industry’s productivity and performance. Additionally, this assists researcher to understand
the various problems faced by firms because of COVID-19 and strategies adapted through
organisations for dealing with issues. In context to entities, this aids them in acknowledging the
effect of COVID-19 on business performance. In respect to investigator, this assists them to
develop skills which are communication, time management, data analysis and others. This would
in future help me in gaining both professional and personal development.
Aim of study
“To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on retail industry’s productivity and performance. A
case study on Marks & Spencer”.
Research objectives
 To analyse the impact of COVID-19 on retail businesses.
 To determine the effect of COVID -19 on performance and productivity of Marks &
Spencer.
 To evaluate the various difficulties faced by Marks & Spencer because of COVID-19.
 To analyse the different strategies adapted through Marks & Spencer in order to deal with
various challenges raise because of COVID-19 pandemic situation.
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Research questions
 What are the impacts of COVID-19 on retail businesses?
 What are the effect of COVID -19 on performance and productivity of Marks & Spencer?
 What are the various difficulties faced by Marks & Spencer because of COVID-19.
 What are the different strategies adapted through Marks & Spencer in order to deal with
various challenges raise because of COVID-19 pandemic situation.
LITERATURE REVIEW200
To analyse the impact of COVID-19 on retail business.
According to the views Mukherjee (2022) COVID-19 has huge impacts upon business across the
world. Moreover, the global pandemic has pessimistic effects upon retail firms as well as most of
them is not become competent for operating appropriately and effectively (Retail After COVID-
19: How Innovation is Powering the New Normal, 2022). Additionally, it also change the retail
business process which were specially get impacted. In addition to this, within retail business
managing the food & daily necessities, few examples of fast action are consider that incorporates
the application of floor stickers for indicating effective social distancing position for consumer
that are waiting in check out line. Also, the action like disinfection of products packaging and
shopping carts for preventing droplet infection that have been added to daily routine of them in
reaction to clients desires for safety.
To determine the effect of COVID -19 on performance and productivity of Marks & Spencer.
According to the views of Wood (2020), COVID-19 negatively impacted business of Marks and
Spencer as the company suffered huge losses because of disruption caused by COVID-19 spread
in the United Kingdom and across the world. There is a report of overall pretax loss of 87.6
million grand British pounds in the six months to September, which is recorded as the first
overall pretax loss reported in 94 years of the company (Marks & Spencer falls to first loss as
Covid crisis hits clothing sales, 2020). The first lockdown in United Kingdom was challenging
for Marks and Spencer as it resulted in the closure of about half of Marks and Spencer's clothing
retail space, A situation which led to huge losses at the company.
To evaluate the various difficulties faced by Marks & Spencer because of COVID-19.
As per the views of Gardner (2020) COVID-19 arises various difficulties which would have
direct impacts upon effectual operations of Marks & Spencer. For controlling the transmission of
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