Business Strategy: SWOT Analysis for Marks and Spencer (M&S)

This essay provides a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of Marks and Spencer (M&S), a major UK-based multinational retailer. The introduction explains the purpose of a SWOT analysis in evaluating a company's competitive position. The analysis highlights M&S's strengths, such as its high-quality products and strong customer service, as well as its weaknesses, including non-trendy products and large store spaces. Opportunities for M&S include international expansion and online marketing, while threats come from strong competitors. The conclusion emphasizes the value of SWOT analysis in helping M&S identify areas for improvement and strategic development. The essay includes references to relevant sources.

SWOT Analysis of Marks and
Spencer

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Essay on the SWOT analysis of Marks and Spencer..................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2

INTRODUCTION
SWOT analysis is a structure, which is used to measure the competitive position of a
company, and to develop strategic planning. The SWOT analysis stands for strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The SWOT analysis is done on M&S, which is a British
Multinational company, deal in relating of clothing’s, and they were founded in 1884 by Michael
Marks and Thomas Spencer.
Essay on the SWOT analysis of Marks and Spencer.
According to Bull, and et. al., (2016) it is evaluated that Swot analysis shows the internal
factors of business in terms of Strength and Weaknesses of the firm, on the other hand, in the
similar way, the external factors of business are examine by the opportunities and Threats of the
organisation. In the following report, SWOT analysis of M&S will get defined, which help the
company to enhance their business. So, here the Strength of Marks and Spencer in the
marketplace is High Quality- In Today's times, M&S has become the large and best retailer
company in the UK, only because of the best quality they are providing in the last previous
years. The quality of products is the main strength of the company to enhance their business in
the market. M&S sells the food and clothes product such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and other
superior goods in the food lobby of the company. Along with this, the branded clothes of best
quality at low price are provided to their customers. The company also has the strength of
market experience, as this has worked with big partners in UK and abroad (Swot Analysis of
marks and spencer, 2019). The other strength of M&S is customer services, this help them to
build a good and strong relationship between customers and the organisation. For example, when
a customer want some thing in clothing’s, shop assistants will help them in measuring their size.
Next, the weaknesses of M&S is Bad publicity as non trendy products, The company has the
drawback that it provides the products which are out of fashioned and which are not in trend.
There are many rumours in people that, the branded clothes which M&S providing to them are
not for teenagers and adults, that are outdated and are for old age people, this myth has affected
the sale of the company. The another weakness of the company M&S is Huge Store Spaces,
where they have increased their number of stores by 75 percent but their sales is not increased.
Other than this, external factors of M&S are opportunities for the company is International
Expansion, mainly the company has already reached in the biggest countries like India, Japan,
1

Russia and Europe. Therefore expanding their business at international level is the biggest
opportunity for M&S to enhance the growth of an organisation and can through this they can
easily attain the goals and objectives. Also with this, the company has the opportunity of
enhancing their business through online marketing, the online presence of M&S is good, and
this is not a big deal for the retail firm of UK, the company should pursue online growth, and
recently company has decide to move towards a third of clothing and home sales online for a
digital future. Although M&S has its own strength, weaknesses and opportunities, but it still
have some threats (Strength in the Swot Analysis of marks and spencer, 2019). Strong rivals is
the major threat of M&S, the competitors like ASDA, TESCO, Sainsbury,etc., provide not only
the best quality products but also the goods at cheap cost and the customers who can't afford high
rates, by this they can also buy their merchandise, and this factor can help them to achieve the
customer loyalty. On the other hand the clothes provided by the rivals of M&S are branded and
trendy, as customers are crazy about the trend so through this the competitors are having the
highest growth as compared to M&S.
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report or essay, it has been concluded that by SWOT analysis
the internal and external factors, as well as current and future potential of an organisation is
evaluated. Through this, M&S can find out the things on which they have to work more and
which things they have to ignore or eliminate, so that they can easily attain their desired goals
and enhance the growth of their company.
2

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bull, J. W., and et. al., 2016. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats: A SWOT
analysis of the ecosystem services framework. Ecosystem services. 17. pp.99-111.
Online
Marks and Spencer Swot Analysis, 2003-2019. [Online]. Available through :
<https://businessteacher.org.uk/swot/marks-and-spencer.php>./
Swot Analysis of marks and spencer, 2019. [Online]. Available through :
<https://www.scribd.com/doc/46757269/SWOT-Analysis-for-Marks-and-Spencer>./
Strength in the Swot Analysis of marks and spencer, 2019. [Online]. Available through :
<https://www.marketing91.com/swot-analysis-of-marks-spencer/>./
3