New year, new menswear
Discover the new M&S Collection
Meet the Experts
An employee from Cheshire Oaks chats to one of our furniture suppliers
Treat yourself
Tasty tips on how to keep up your healthy eating resolution
Spring/Summer ’14
Five employees tell us their top picks for this season
Keeping you in touch January / February 2014
Inside SWHOPPING UPDATE IN STATS
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Our most recent One Day Wardrobe Clear Out took place on 3 October ’13
Close-up
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4 Helping hands
How M&S is making it easier for employees to help their community as part of Plan A
5 In Touch
Customers say thank you
6 Tanzania Trekkers Read about this brave charity challenge
7 Three cheers
Employees thank each other
Magazine heroes
We couldn’t have created this issue of YOUR M&S without these colleagues
391,996
A grand total of 391,996 garments were donated on this day alone
£454,715 Raising £454,715 for Oxfam
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To date, 7 million garments have been Shwopped raising £4.5 million for the charity
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By donating just one jacket, you could help to supply food for two families, for ten days, during an emergency
Features
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12 Stylish menswear
Matthew from Bristol Longwell Green store models outfits from the new M&S Collection, and gives David Gandy a run for his money
19 24 Meet the Experts
Emma from Cheshire Oaks store chats to one of our furniture suppliers
26 Your letters
Spotlighting some of your ideas
19 Here comes the sun
Employees from Orpington store tell us about their top products from the Spring/ Summer 2014 press show
27 Puzzles and prizes
22 A delicious new you
Win a trendy menswear outfit, as modelled by one of our employees
Some hints and tips on sticking to your resolutions
‘I really enjoyed styling the menswear shoot, bringing the clothes to life and working with colleagues.’ BETHAN PADDISON, EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS AND INVESTOR RELATIONS
‘It has been fantastic being involved in the feature on M&S Collection, which really shows off some of the stylish outfits that M&S offers our customer.’ HARRY BULLARD, HEAD OF BRANDING AND MARKETING, MENSWEAR
‘The Meet the Experts feature is a great example of the unique relationships between M&S employees and suppliers.’ HILARY WILKINSON, STORE MANAGER, CHESHIRE OAKS STORE
‘
Hello! Welcome...
STYLE COUNCIL Nick from Manchester Piccadilly store lends a hand on our menswear photoshoot
24 Go online now! Look out for the digital version of YOUR M&S. It has all of the fantastic stories from your regular magazine, plus some extra articles for you to read, enjoy and share with your colleagues. See Today@M&S or My Store Workspace for details
Contact
If you have an idea for a great news story, please ask your BIG rep to send it to us. Clare Goulty, Editor – extn 183283 Email: Employee.comms@marks-andspencer.com Post: Employee Communications, Marks & Spencer, Waterside House, UG East, 35 North Wharf Road, London W2 1NW
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In our first issue of 2014 we bring you a first look at some of the stylish new M&S Collection range from Menswear, modelled by our dashing colleague, Matthew. We also take a look at more of our Spring/ Summer collection through the eyes of four employees from Orpington store, who were lucky enough to visit our press show. Turn to page 19 to read about their favourite products. And our Food team offer up some helpful tips on how to rescue those New Year resolutions. Here’s to a happy and healthy year!
CLARE GOULTY EDITOR, YOUR M&S
Picture credits
Cover photography: Lars H Hair and make-up: Collette Ruddy Styling: Bethan Paddison Other images: Dean Belcher, I Heart Studios, Matt Thomas This magazine is printed on 50% recycled paper. Please do the right thing by passing it on to someone else or recycling it after you have read it.
Story to tell? Email Employee.Comms@marks-and-spencer.com
Close-up BU S I N E S S
Dear colleagues...
Thank you for all your efforts over the busy Christmas and Sale period. I know that everyone worked extremely hard to give our customers a magical Christmas and I’m very appreciative of everything you’ve done. We’re still on our journey to transform M&S and have much to look forward to in 2014. We have the best food halls in the UK, showcasing an irresistible range of products, unbeatable in terms of taste, quality and innovation. As our customers’ attention turns to health and wellbeing this new year, we’re in a great position to offer healthy and tasty foods, such as our popular Fuller Longer and Count On Us ranges. In GM, as you know, we’re putting style and quality back into our subbrands. This journey continues with the launch of M&S Collection in Menswear, which has quality and innovation at its heart. Our new flagship, M&S.com, is coming. In readiness for the launch, please take time to get to know the new site so that you’re familiar with it by customer switch-on this spring. The more you know about the site, the more prepared you’ll be to serve our customers when it goes live. I’m optimistic about the year ahead. With our continued focus on the customer and your first-class commitment, we can keep taking this great business forward together.
Marc Bolland, CEO
PEOPLE
Helping you help your community
An M&S employee using his volunteer day to demonstrate IT
F
or a while now you’ve spring, where you can save clothes from been telling us that, as part going to local landfill and help of Plan A, you’d like more Oxfam support mothers around the opportunities to help your world (for more details, see the news local community. From this year, we’ll be story on page 5). And make sure you save making it easier for all M&S employees to the date for our annual Big Beach and do more to work with the causes they care Waterway Clean-up, which takes place about and we’ll be asking every store to from 7 to 13 April. By taking part in this chose their own charity of the year. We’ll fantastic event you’ll be helping to clean also be giving more support to our Plan A your local area, as well as supporting the champions to help make sure that this Marine Conservation Society. Details of happens. You’ll be hearing your nearest beach or waterway clean a lot more about what we’ll will be released by the end of February. be doing differently over the coming weeks and months, so look out for more information on how you can make a difference and be more in touch with your local community. In the meantime, you can Volunteers helping to clean up beaches in get behind our exciting Aberdeen Shwopping campaign this January / February 2014
05 YOUR M&S
News
SERV ICE
W ELLBEING
Sympathetic service
Every day, we receive emails and letters that demonstrate how M&S employees are In Touch with our customers. Here’s a selection of the stories we loved…
A manager at Glasgow Pollok store was approached by a customer who wanted to express her delight after chatting with Wine Hero Maureen Sinclair (left). The customer had approached Maureen with a query, but the discussion between them moved the customer to tears. The customer is currently undergoing treatment for cancer and described the empathy shown by Maureen as ‘overwhelming’. What a top seller One of our customers took the time to complete a customer satisfaction survey to tell us how
pleasant and polite Patricia Terrill, Customer Assistant at Bournemouth store, is. She reported that Patricia was excellent at helping her find what she was looking for and was outstanding at suggesting items to complement the products. Star player Cards are often sent to Middlesbrough store’s Yvonne Mayes, Customer Assistant, to thank her for her exceptional service. The cards, along with the fact that she was nominated for a spotlight award every month last year, show how much Yvonne delights the customers of Middlesbrough.
CHARITY
Shwop for mums around the world M&S and Oxfam are joining forces with the Department for International Development (DfID) between now and the end of March, which means that all the money raised from Shwopped garments over the next few weeks will be matched by the DfID. What’s more, everything you and your customers Shwop will support Oxfam’s special motherhood campaign, which will fund projects that help struggling women to support their families in countries including Tajikistan, Zambia and Bangladesh; like Joygun (pictured right) who, thanks to the help she has received from Oxfam, has been able to grow and sell chillies to make money and provide meals for her two children. Every single garment that is Shwopped in store will help to raise vital funds for projects that will have a positive impact on the lives of these women and their families, giving them the boost they need to work their way out of poverty. Stores will be able to compete in ‘Top of the Shwops’ events for exciting prizes, including the chance to be featured in YOUR M&S. Look out for more information, coming your way soon.
January / February 2014
The challenge is under way Our annual weight loss challenge, which sees individuals and teams of four employees compete to safely lose the most weight, is well under way. So keep supporting your colleagues if they are taking part. You can track their progress and see who is in pole position (and set to win some great prizes) at planahealth.com.
Close-up PL AN A
The IT crowd
In November last year, more than 600 experts from our IT department and supplier companies volunteered to promote an interest in IT to local community projects, including schools and care homes, across London and the South East. Hundreds of laptops were also collected, recycled and given to the schools and care homes that the teams visited. IT equipment that couldn’t be re-used was broken down and made into a ‘Selfiebot’ – a robot-like sculpture (pictured below) that takes instant ‘selfies’ of people that pose with it. Remember to use your volunteer day. For more information, check out the volunteering section on the Plan A website, planahealth.com.
CHARITY
100 days of fundraising
Employees from the regional office in Bangalore organised events during the 100 days of fundraising We recently teamed up with UNICEF for 100 days of fundraising, which culminated on 20 November 2013, Universal Children’s Day. Employees and customers at our 420 international stores and offices took part and organised events to help provide lifechanging education for young people around the globe.
It is the first time M&S has embarked on a global fundraising challenge which will help us to engage our international employees and customers on Plan A. Jan Heere, Director of International said: ‘Our international business is growing rapidly and we want our partnership with Unicef to grow in the same way.’
CHARITY
Tanzania Trekkers
Coming soon This spring, we will be trialling madeto-order suits – Savile Row Inspired Personal Tailoring – in our Marble Arch store. If customers like the service, it could be rolled out further. Watch this space!
A big well done to everyone who took part in the Tanzania Highland Challenge in support of Farm Africa. The team of 13 leading figures from the UK’s food industry, including Steve McLean, M&S’s Head of Agriculture and Fisheries, covered 145km of the Tanzanian Highlands in just six days, climbing rocky slopes and extinct volcanoes and trekking through wild areas alongside wildlife. The trek was part of Farm Africa’s Food for Good initiative, which is bringing together the food and hospitality industry to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems: hunger. All expenses – including flights and hotels – had to be met by the trekkers themselves, meaning that every penny raised will go to Food for Good. You can read more about the challenge at www.farmafrica.org.
The team, including Steve McLean, second from right, during the trek
January / February 2014
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YOUR M&S
News
P RO DUC T D E V E L O P M E N T
Our jewellery gets brighter and whiter All our jewellery now contains Argentium sterling silver, which is guaranteed to be purer, brighter and whiter than traditional sterling silver, platinum, rhodium and white gold. Argentium is responsibly made using only recycled silver and the patented formula gives Argentium silver a longer-lasting shine, making it easy to care for and simple to keep clean.
Ring, T06/0791X £17.50
S E RV IC E
Your opportunity to thank your colleagues for their support, dedication, efficiency and humour – or simply for being themselves Coach Junia Dinan is customerfocused, service-driven and an excellent sales person. Every department she has worked in has shown high standards and improved sales results. As a coach, she sets an excellent example and creates a friendly environment at work. Nominated by HOUNSLOW BIG Recently, Glasgow Pollok store suffered a power cut, which resulted in the lifts breaking down, trapping a family, including small children, for some time. Coach Elaine Moran (above) remained on hand to constantly reassure the family every step of the way, keeping
them updated on any news and singing ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ with the children to keep them occupied. Nominated by POLLOK GLASGOW BIG Section Coordinator Christine Whithead deserves significant recognition for her charity efforts. Christine goes the extra mile to support the store charity, including coordinating fancy dress days, cake bakes and many other activities. These events not only raise vital funds for such a good cause, but also provide entertainment for fellow employees. Nominated by MIDDLESBROUGH BIG I N T E R N AT IO N A L
Making his Marc CEO Marc Bolland recently visited China, where we have 15 stores. Mayor of London Boris Johnson joined Marc in Shanghai on a tour of our flagship store in Golden Bell plaza and tried on a Savile Row suit.
Close-up PL AN A
A project to change lives
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© U NICEF/BA NA 20 08- 0 0 432 /SHEHZ A D NOOR A NI
e are one of the first companies to sign up to an innovative new UNICEF project designed to improve the health and lives of vulnerable children while cutting the carbon emissions that cause climate change. We will kick-start the project in early 2014 by providing funds for 40,000 fuel-efficient, low-pollution cook stoves to be manufactured, sold and maintained by local entrepreneurs in 2,000 villages in Bangladesh. According to the World Health Organization, some 49,000 people, 70% of whom are children under the age of five, die each year in Bangladesh due to the smoke generated from traditional indoor cook stoves. Indoor air pollution from solid fuel is the third biggest risk factor for deaths in South Asia and the number of deaths from this pollution is greater than those from malaria or tuberculosis. The project will create more than 150 new jobs as local people will be trained to manufacture, market and install the stoves. It will be delivered to the highest environmental and development standards and aims to qualify for The Gold Standard carbon credit certification. BIG I D E A
Waste not, want not Craig Allardice won Finance Director Alan Stewart’s BIG Idea about reducing cost without compromising efficiency. Here, he tells us about how his idea has been rolled out
I was the Store Manager at Manchester Piccadilly Simply Food store and for years I’d been chatting to fellow employees about the amount of waste generated from the unnecessary décor sent to our store.
I began to develop this idea, building on my day-to-day experience as well as the suggestions from my team, and entered it into the BIG Idea, which had been posed by Alan Stewart.
The idea was simple but highly effective and involved creating a matrix to prevent the waste of sending redundant décor to stores that are not stocking those products.
January / February 2014
FOOD
Whipping up a storm CHARITY
Poppy power We raised £542,000 for the Royal British Legion last year, donating 30% from the sale of each of our Poppy products . The money will go towards their Immediate Needs Grants to help fund vital services, such as grants for those in financial difficulty, employment advice and funding to ease the transition from service to civilian life. Small grants can make huge differences to people’s lives, and thanks to your help the Royal British Legion can help get people back on track.
95% I was thrilled to discover that I had won the BIG Idea and was asked to visit the Paddington office to start developing the idea.
January / February 2014
Following our Walnut Whip competition last year, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of our Walnut Whip, lucky employees from the winning stores were treated to their prize – a visit to the Walnut Whip factory in Norfolk. Teams from Kidderminster, Windsor, Banstead and Athlone stores all attended, with Norwich store visiting the production line on a separate day. The team from the factory showed the guests how our famous Walnut Whips are made. They were also shown around the development kitchen, where all the new products start life, and had the chance to create their very own Walnut Whip flavours. Watch this space to see if they make it into our stores!
Did you know? It takes one hour and 25 minutes to make each Walnut Whip. But up to 34,000 can be finished in the space of an hour.
We have managed to achieve 95% e fficiency in sending the right décor to the correc t store
I also met with suppliers to gain more of an understanding about the creation and production process.
Since January 2013, I have been on secondment to the marketing, design and production team. I also spent time with the Foods SRD (Space Range and Display team) to work on a more efficient décor allocation process using their data.
The new process resulted in much lower quantities of décor being sent to stores. We are now working on expanding the trial to GM. Watch this space!
Close-up
We Valen tine’s Day
Oudinot Brut Sartorial Tie, Champagne, T12/4195, £25 £19.50
Body, £25, T81/8641Y
Cushions £10 each, T47/5550
Open Your Red Rose Heart Bouquet, Collection, £15 450g, £25 Autograph Luxury Double Dozen, £60
‘Our Open Your Heart box of chocolates contains elegant and unusual flavours like Maldon sea salt, Madagascan vanilla and Marc de Champagne.’ Alexandra Emerson White, Product Developer
Loaded Raspberry Hearts, £4 for two FOOD
Spring roll out
To celebrate the Chinese new year we’ve launched these new products: Oriental green vegetable spring rolls (pictured right) – crisp netted rice pancakes filled with mangetout, broccoli, green beans, edamame soybeans, pak choi and Chinese chives with a soy, ginger and garlic dip (210g, £2.99), and a mini spring roll selection – four Aromatic Singapore chicken and four char sui pork spring rolls with a sweet chilli dip (176g, £2.99).
M & S .C O M
Don’t forget
The day when we welcome customers to our new flagship, M&S.com is getting nearer. So now’s the time to make sure you’re familiar with the new M&S.com and M&S. com+ sites ahead of customer switch-on. Not heard of M&S.com+? It’s an internal sister site of M&S. com that employees in stores and contact centres can use to see and search in exactly the same way as our customers. January / February 2014
Choices With over 30,000 employees registered, Choices – the home of your reward – is still growing
You’ll be excited to hear that we’ll be running our next enrolment window for Options – our flexible benefits scheme – between 7 and 28 February. Employees in retail, logistics and our offices might be eligible to buy up to two weeks’ additional holiday through Choices. Employees may also be able to participate in Cycle2Work and PC4Home. These benefits are only available during the dates above, so make sure you log on and submit your selections by 28 February to avoid missing out. Additionally, childcare vouchers and our car benefits – ‘mycar’ and our exclusive discounts with Vauxhall – are available all year round. For more details, including eligibility, log on to Choices and access the information within the Document Library.
Enrolling in these schemes has many benefits for you and your family, including:
l Enabling you to personalise your reward package. l Allowing you to spread the cost, through
reductions to your salary.
l Offering you savings against retail prices in the
Cycle2Work and PC4Home schemes.
l Providing you with potential tax and National
Insurance savings*.
January / February 2014
What should I do?
To receive all the latest information, make sure that you log on to Choices – www.mandschoices.co.uk and register your email address. You’ll see posters and more information about the enrolment window in early February. Don’t forget you can access great discounts through Perks at any time of the year – on holidays, technology and M&S Bank, to name just a few. *Tax and National Insurance savings apply to holiday buying, Cycle2Work and childcare vouchers. Savings may also be available on mycar, depending on the vehicle chosen.
We recentl new secti y added a on showing y on Choices our em discount c ployee ode. You should use this fo r the easies register y t way to our on the new discount M&S.com site when it launche s in the spri ng
MENSWEAR GETS A MAKEOVER M&S Collection has launched in menswear. Matthew, from Bristol Longwell Green store, models a selection of outfits from the range
Spring 2014 sees the launch of M&S Collection, replacing M&S Man. M&S Collection is targeted at our core customer who wants to look and feel stylish without looking as though he is trying too hard. It has quality and innovation at its heart, ensuring every garment fits, lasts and is easy to care for. Employee Matthew models a selection of the new outfits. January / February 2014
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Buckle up This leather belt is a practical wardrobe staple. T09/2449, £9.50
YOUR M&S
Menswear
Matthew,
Opposite: Jeans, T17/6528M, £35; Shirt, T11/1520, £25; Jumper, T30/7625M, £15; Tie, T12/1700, £9.50; Jacket, T19/3712, £119
Customer Assistant (Store Operations), Bristol Longwell Green store
Blue suede boots Our Stain Resistant™ technology on suede acts as a barrier to stop stains from forming. T03/6791, £75
‘Naturally I was thrilled to be offered the chance to take part in this shoot. This outfit (far left) was my favourite from the day. I love the way that it’s been put together: casual jeans and a jumper, but with a really sharp jacket and shirt and tie combo – it’s very trendy, yet the pieces feel classical.’
Trendy
Paler palettes Pastels are set to make a big comeback this spring. T30/2500M, £19.50
We love this stylish watch. T09/5332M, £45
Tony O’Connor, Head of Design, Menswear What does M&S Collection stand for? M&S Collection is about iconic wardrobe essentials presented in a very masculine, stylish way. We worked hard to identify key pieces that we know M&S customers love, and design them with their own strong essence of style. The clothes will cover a whole range of looks, from sharp, stylised suits to this slightly more dressed-down look (left), which is very cool and urban. What changes have you made to the clothes? In order to offer greater choice and to stay up to date with fashion, we’ve broadened the number of fits across
menswear to four: Regular, Tailored, Slim and Super Slim. While Super Slim will continue to only be used in Limited Edition, Slim and Tailored fits will appear more in our other sub brands. We’ve spent a great deal of time ensuring that the fits are consistent, so that if a customer wears a tailored fit in Autograph, it will fit exactly the same as a tailored fit in Collezione or M&S Collection. We’ve upgraded our fabrics, too. Across M&S Collection you’ll see the fabric designs are more defined, brighter in colour and more intricate as we’re using finer yarns and higher-quality fabrics.
Many thanks to Little Orchard, vegetarian kitchen
Shirt, T11/4396, £39.50; Jacket, T15/2369, £90; Trousers, T15/2370, £59; Tie, T12/2622, £12.50
Best-in-class style, edited perfectly November / December 2013
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YOUR M&S
Menswear
Top knot
Bold ties have been a big hit on catwalks recently. T12/1700, £9.50; T12/7768X, £16
Innovation
We’re adding a fusible thread to all our formal trousers to prevent the hems from falling down. T03/6789, £65
Market first Antibacterial Keep You Fresh finishes will be added to our three-pack easycare shirts. T11/2311W, £30
On her Majesty’s service Add a splash of colour to any suit with these cufflinks. T09/1202T, £15
Mark Yates, Head of Technology, Menswear What are the key Menswear innovations for Spring 2014? There are many great examples of where we’re investing in product technology to set us apart from the competition. Last autumn we trialled a new Fresh Feet Comfort Sock. It proved to be really popular with customers so we’re rolling this innovation out to half the total range of Fresh Feet. Stay New t-shirts with a durable softener that keeps the fabric feeling beautifully soft for more than 20 washes will also be arriving in store in spring. All our £9.50 M&S Collection t-shirts have this treatment, which is a
January / February 2014
great example of M&S offering fantastic value even at lower price points. We’re also in the process of upgrading all of our Autograph cotton to Supima, which is an extremely high quality fibre that produces wonderfully soft fabric with a clean surface and a beautiful lustre – perfect for our premium sub brand. Within footwear, and as part of the Airflex range, we’re introducing a premium ‘Ultra light sole’, which further improves the level of comfort within this range. We’ve also improved the durability of our leather soles and developed a heel that makes our shoes last longer.
Cords, T18/7405, £39.50; Jumper, T30/2512M, £29.50; Polo, T28/3136M, £15
M&S Collection is made up of wearable clothes for real life November / December 2013
Cool slacks These preppy trousers are a great alternative to the cords modelled by Matthew (left). T17/6366B, £19.50
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YOUR M&S
Menswear
Button up
Wear shirts and polos done up to the neck with rolledup jeans for spring’s retro feel. T25/3144M, £25 Nick, from Manchester Piccadilly store, lends a helping hand on the photoshoot
Loafing Something for the weekend? This luxurious bag is a must-have accessory this spring. T09/0684M, £79
These elegant shoes have a timeless appeal. T03/6782, £59
Nick, Customer Assistant, Manchester Piccadilly store
January / February 2014
What are your thoughts on the products that you’ve seen today? The clothes look great; the colours are fresh yet timeless, and the pastels will work really well in spring.
will be rolled out across all formal and suit trousers. My customers love this permanent crease technology as it takes the hassle out of keeping their trousers looking smart.
What will your customers think of M&S Collection? I think they’ll love it – everything I’ve seen today is very on-trend, yet classic. The attention to quality and detail is outstanding and the innovations are great, too. I was chatting to Mark Yates, Head of Technology, Menswear, at the photoshoot and was pleased to hear that Super Crease
What’s your favourite range within M&S? My own look is very casual, but you can’t go wrong with a suit, and the threepiece is set to make a big comeback this season. I’ve always been a big fan of our Savile Row suits – they are such high quality, they hang very well and flatter all shapes and sizes. I advise customers to team them with a bold tie.
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YOUR M&S
Menswear What our Menswear brands stand for
M&S Collection As our core range, garments in M&S Collection are designed to be best in class by combining quality, fit and innovation while also setting a comprehensive, accessible, yet aspirational, style agenda. M&S Collection provides customers with up-to-date, timeless outfit solutions for every occasion.
MEN/T28/SPR14/317194
Autograph
NEW SPRING CAMPAIGN Shots from David Gandy’s Spring photoshoot in LA
Autograph is a stylish contemporary collection of premium quality clothing with a high standard of attention to detail. It is sophisticated, pared-down, but still trend-aware, with a strong emphasis on design. Autograph is the brand of choice for the customer aspiring to affordable luxury.
Blue Harbour Blue Harbour is a coordinated collection of classic and modern sport-inspired smart casual clothing with roots in British style. Refined detailing and considered, yet confident, colour combinations link the brand with the British sporting lifestyle and its aspirations.
Collezione Collezione is a coordinated collection that represents, and is inspired by, refined and relaxed Italian style. It is subtle and sophisticated in colour and has close links to its Italian roots through inspiration and product. Fine cuts, close attention to detail and noble yarns ensure the Italian finesse is felt in all garments.
North Coast
M&S Collection for Menwear offers great choice, innovation and wardrobe solutions. It’s brilliant to have David Gandy modelling our clothes and Matthew, from Bristol Longwell Green store, certainly shows off the superb new products within the range! Scott Fyfe, Director of Menswear
North Coast is a collection of cool, rugged casualwear with a performance edge that can be tested in the extremes. It can be styled in a variety of ways for an easy, laid-back, individualised look to fit in with urban and outdoor lifestyles. 70036_MEN_314852_148x210.indd 1
MEN/AUT13/314852 26/06/2013 08:27
Savile Row Inspired SHIRTS
Savile Row in London is regarded as the last word in quality and stylish tailoring. Savile Row Inspired, our exclusive collaboration with award-winning Savile Row tailor Richard James, reflects the best of this iconic street by offering customers the highest possible level of attention to detail, premium quality fabrics and perfect fit, all at an affordable price.
BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE OR £49 EACH .50
Subject to availability.
70042_MEN_314354_178x210.indd 1
January / February 2014
MEN/T15/AUT13/314354
07/06/2013 13:11
19 YOUR M&S
Spring/Summer
HERE COMES THE SUN
Last year we asked stores to send in videos of themselves quality testing some of our GM products. Employees from Orpington store did such a sterling job that we invited them to our Spring/Summer 2014 press show. Here, they tell us about their top picks for the next season and why they think our customers will love them From left to right: Ella, Glynis, Sheena and Mark
Above: Some of the stunning new lingerie set to arrive in stores this spring. Below: Paschal Little, Head of Technology for M&S lingerie, chats to the Orpington employees
Left: Kidswear beautifully presented at the press show
January / February 2014
Skirt, £59
Ella, Womenswear Section Coordinator, Orpington store
‘I predict that this skirt will be a bestseller next season. The white is very on-trend and I think it will have mass appeal. ‘It’s been great seeing the outfits styled like this; we’re seeing more of this in store – showing customers how to build an outfit, what they can wear with what. It helps us to cross-sell, which is ideal. ‘Our customer base at Orpington store is very broad, they come from all walks of life, and I think that there are products here that will appeal to everyone.’
Dressing Table, Mirror & Stool, T65/7107, £699
Glynis, Womenswear Brands Zoner, Orpington store
‘I fell in love with this dressing table as soon as I saw it. It’s so beautiful and the colour is perfect. It’s dainty but not too fussy. I’m going to have to buy one for my granddaughter. The Home department here is so beautifully presented, with lots of gorgeous, bright colours. We’ve had a whale of time today, it’s been such a privilege being part of the press show.’ January / February 2014
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WATCH KNOWLEDGE TO SHARE VODCASTS ON THE SPRING/ SUMMER KIDSWEAR. SEE MY STORE WORKSPACE > INTOUCH TOOLKIT > STAYING INTOUCH WEEKLY UPDATE OR THE KNOWLEDGE TO SHARE APP
YOUR M&S
Spring/Summer
What the media says
Sheena, Womenswear M&S
Collection Zoner, Orpington store ‘I found it so hard to pick one piece in kidswear, all the products look fabulous! I just love this little yellow dress, it’s incredibly pretty and looks so summery, perfect for a party or a special occasion like Easter. It’s a really simple shape, one that would suit any little girl. I’d encourage customers to pair it with some cute sandals.’
This vast collection boasts a great price point and... an incredibly alluring second collection in a new chapter for M&S. Our advice? Put your name down for that green dress right now.
Dress, T77/4347V, From £35
Coat, T16/7329A, £110
You’ll have to wait until February to get your hands on the collection, but it will be well worth the wait. If you’re anything like us, we can guarantee you’ll forget winter and start dreaming of next season’s wardrobe after seeing these pieces...
Mark, Womenswear Section Manager, Orpington store
‘We’ve had an amazing time, it’s been really interesting seeing what we’ll get in store next season. The detail on the products is superb. I think we’ve gone bold this season and that we’ll be taking the lead in terms of style and quality on the high street. This menswear coat is one of my favourite pieces from the day – it’s the perfect mix and match piece: you could wear it in a really casual way or over a suit for a smarter look. I think customers will love it.’
November / December 2013
A recurring theme of the collection is the summer coat. There is a notch-lapel version in mint, a subtle echo of that famous pink; an oversized lightweight grey tweed jacket; a smart lemonyellow duster; and a British-made white trench. One of these is likely to appeal to every customer at some point next spring.
Would you like to attend our next press show?
Write to us by 21 February and tell us why you and your team should win a trip to the Autumn/ Winter event. Email Employee.Comms@ marks-and-spencer.com
ss spring forward We look at some of the key trends behind our Spring/Summer 2014 ranges
90s Luxe
World Wide
Easy elegance and sophistication with edge define this sleek 90s revival. Expect to see sharp tailoring in monochromes and taupe leathers.
World Wide is a celebration of all things adventurous. Abstract prints and bohemian layering work together in this explosion of sleek femininity.
The modern green dress from M&S Collection, with its optimistic pop of colour and easy-wear shape, made it a firm favourite with the fashion press. A versatile piece that is easy to dress up or down, ideal with heel or flats, it’s a dress that will help you transition your spring wardrobe to summer. Shelly Smith, Senior Press Officer, M&S Collection
s Paint Box
20 14 23 Your M&S
Spring/Summer
Pretty Things
Sheer layering, lace and a subtle use of metallic define this romantic trend. Textured florals, razorsharp pleats and outerwear in sugary shades complete the contemporary yet ladylike look.
Punchy primaries unite with more contemporary colours in Paint Box. Simple silhouettes and colourfully animated leathers clash with luxe textures and neutral tones.
White Out
Confirming white as the colour of the season, this trend is simplistic, clean and effortless with sleek sports detailing. Look out for chic, linear shapes and fluid draping.
January / February 2014
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FOR DELICIOUS BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER IDEAS TO HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR DIET, GO TO MARKSANDSPENCER.COM/HEALTH TO VIEW OUR 4-WEEK MEAL PLANNERS FOR FULLER LONGER AND COUNT ON US
A DELICIOUS NEW YOU We bring you a few tips on how to stick to your resolutions without compromising your taste buds...
Claire Hughes, Head of Nutrition and Science at our Paddington office, shares her five top tips for healthy eating A little bit of what you fancy does you good: this is a motto of mine. Many people fail diets because they are too strict with themselves. It’s all about portion control. Treat yourself every so often, but try smaller versions of your favourite sweet snacks to help you control your calories. They don’t even have to be low fat or healthy – so try our mini scones or cupcakes to satisfy that craving for something sweet.
We’ve heard it all before, but the nutrients you get from green veg really are invaluable, especially iron, folic acid and calcium, which is found in green leafy vegetables such as broccoli and spinach. They are also high in Vitamin C, which is essential for your immune system and helps you absorb iron from your food. If you don’t enjoy them on their own, team them with your favourite meat, or try making a delicious vegetarian curry.
I swear by oily fish; it works wonders for your hair and skin and provides Omega-3 fatty acids, which are also necessary for a healthy heart. A lot of people struggle with eating oily fish, but there are plenty of ways to cook it and make it taste delicious. Personally, I love our salmon flakes in pasta with reduced fat crème fraiche, asparagus and lemon.
Vitamin D plays a crucial role for your body in many different ways, especially for maintaining bone health. It’s made by our body when we have sunlight on our skin, but owing to our less than sunny climes, we don’t make any during the winter months. The good news is that you can top up your levels with the right foods. Our Active Health yogurts contain an extra dose of the sunshine vitamin, so I always recommend that people try to eat one of these a day. I don’t really like the word exercise, it sounds too daunting, but what I really can’t recommend enough of is simply getting outside and going for a brisk walk. It may not seem like a big effort, but do it regularly enough and you’ll really notice a difference, both to your energy levels and your waistline. Start the year as you mean to go on!
January / February 2014
25
YOUR M&S
Healthy eating
Winter warmer
Fuller Longer Venison Meatballs with Braised Red Cabbage and Mash, 385g, £4.29
Friday night treat Count on Us Indian takeaway for one, 400g, £3.99 A hearty, but healthy, option Fuller Longer Mediterranean Hotpot with Potato Bake, 370g, £3.99
‘Our range of healthy food tastes delicious and offers convenient options. From Fuller Longer Venison Meatballs to Count on Us Indian Takeaway, you’ll be surprised by the types of food you can enjoy!’ Emma Broughton, Product Developer, Healthy Meals
Did you know?
OUR TASTY RANGES
Our Lochmuir Salmon contains all the recommended Omega 3 fats for a whole week in just one 100g portion
FULLER LONGER
COUNT ON US
G U I LT F R E E S N AC K I N G
Developed with expert advice from scientists at the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health at the University of Aberdeen, renowned for its groundbreaking research on effective weight loss, all products in the Fuller Longer range are full of protein and can be included as part of a weight loss or weight maintenance diet.
Our Count On Us range has been specially developed to be low in fat (less than 3%) and calorie controlled – allowing you to enjoy great taste without the guilt!
A healthy, balanced diet can include snacks, but sometimes it can be easy to overindulge. To help you, we’ve launched a range of sweet and savoury portion-controlled snacks that don’t compromise on taste and quality and are all less than 150 calories.
January / February 2014
TASTY TIPS
Healthy doesn’t have to be boring. Here are our top ten dishes and snacks to help you stick to your healthy eating goals
Chocolate & Peanut Popcorn Bars £2.49 for four
Active Health Juice £1.99
Tomato & Mozzarella Salad £2.50
Chicken & Almond Tagine £3.99
Turkey & Pastrami Sandwich £2.75
Chicken & Roasted Mushrooms £3.99
Rhubarb & Custard Dessert £1.10
American Pulled Pork Wrap £3.80
Super Wholefood Salad £3
January / February 2014
YOUR M&S
Healthy eating
Minced Beef & Vegetable Pie ÂŁ3.49 January / February 2014
28
Your M&S
Meet the experts
Meet the experts
Home Section Manager Emma Walls, from Cheshire Oaks store, spends time chatting to Paul Islip, Managing Director of one of our suppliers, Westbridge Furniture Designs, who operate our eco factory in Wales Emma: Can you tell me a bit about Westbridge Furniture Designs and its Plan A credentials? Paul: Westbridge is an M&S
model ‘green’ factory in north Wales that opened in 1986. We now supply M&S with approximately 96% of its upholstered furniture. In 2006, we decided to undergo various processes to make Westbridge a sustainable factory to ensure that our manufacturing is as ‘green’ as it can be. We have roughly halved our carbon footprint, we use renewable energy and make the most of sustainable raw materials. We’re also working to achieve our aim of zero waste to landfill – we’re currently at about 95%.
Emma: Where did the idea for the Plan Abbey sofa come from? Paul: M&S’s aim is to become
carbon neutral at every stage of the business cycle, so after the success of the world’s most sustainable suit, we worked with them to see if we could do the same thing with a sofa. The Abbey is our best-selling sofa, so it seemed fitting that it became our most sustainable. And so Plan Abbey was born. The seat cushions and arms are upholstered using coir, which is made from the husks of coconuts and is a natural waste product from the food industry. We also
some furniture facts We have sold more than 100,000 Abbey sofas since we first started selling them in 1999 The Abbey sofa has been tested more than one million times Westbridge supplies M&S with roughly 96% of its upholstered furniture Fibres from the husks of 25 coconuts make up each Plan Abbey sofa The fabric used to upholster the sofa is also very green, and is a blend of 60% wool and 40% flax
use Forest Stewardship Councilcertified timber in the frames, as well as recycled polyester fibres in the backs of the sofas. The fabric that is used to upholster the sofa is also very green. It’s a blend of 60% wool and 40% flax. Obviously, it’s a product that we’re very proud of. Emma: What new products are being introduced into the range? Paul: We are doubling the range
of fabrics and leathers available on the whole range and adding in some exciting new designs that will broaden the overall appeal and also inspire our customers. We will also be seeing what Plan A attributes from the Abbey we can roll out to other suites.
Interview swap Paul: How have customers responded to the new Home layout? Emma: From both an employee
and customer perspective, the concept works 100%. Having the furniture displayed in ‘rooms’ makes it easier for customers to shop and easier for us to crosssell. We get more large orders now as customers are buying into entire themes, as opposed to just items. They can see what rug, lamp and cushions we have chosen to match a particular sofa, and with our iPads they
can place multiple orders there and then. Paul: What do you think of the training that employees in the Home and Furniture departments receive from Westbridge? Emma: It’s excellent. As you know,
all our employees from Home and Furniture come to your factory to learn about the products and the stages that they go through, from design right through to the manufacturing process in the accredited furniture-testing lab. It helps enormously when it comes to explaining the product to customers; especially as we are dealing with such big-ticket items.
Paul: How have customers responded to the Plan Abbey sofa? Emma: Quite well. People
sometimes come to the department and ask where the ‘coconut sofa’ is! Customers always comment on how comfortable it is, and how well the cushions spring back – it’s hard to believe that they are filled with coconut fibres. But I do think that we could be doing more to communicate the message behind it to both employees and customers. It would be great if we could offer more information on the sofa and its credentials for people to take away. It’s an amazing product, but we need to shout about it more! January / February 2014
Emma and Paul on the Plan Abbey sofa
Your letters
Lucy Randall of corporate communications finds the answers to your questions
Getting personal
Customers who shop in our Marlow store are proud to be from Marlow, and we think this is the case for most customers in different locations across the country. We thought it would be a great idea to produce reusable bags that have a design on that has some kind of connection to the store’s county or area. For example, a bag could say ‘Your M&S Marlow’, or perhaps have a logo that represents that location. We think this would get people to buy a Bag For Life and reuse it. Chloe Lipinski, Marlow Simply Food
Star Letter
I am a huge fan of M&S hosiery and always buy my tights in store. I was wondering, however, if you could make sizing within hosiery more specific. I often find the tight leg is too long and I’m left having to constantly pull them up to avoid a Nora Batty look!
Helen Cox, Investor Relations Manager
Thanks for your letter, Helen. We do lots of work to make sure we size our hosiery correctly, including trials across all four sizes for every new specification we introduce. Our Small size hosiery is designed to fit ladies within the range of 4ft 11in to 5ft 4in in height, and with a 34in to 39in hip. If you are within the hosiery size chart our tights should fit you well. This chart is designed to suit over 95% of the female population in the UK. If you’re at the lower end of the Small size chart for height you will find that tights with a higher lycra content should help avoid any wrinkling. We also recently changed our range of fashion tights from dual sized (S/M and L/XL) to individually sized (S, M, L and XL) to offer better-fitting tights, so make sure you keep an eye out for these.
A £10 M&S gift voucher for every question featured and £25 for the Star Letter*. We really want to hear from you – we’d love to know what’s on your mind. Please send your letters to the address on p3 of this magazine. *Letters may be edited for publication.
Thanks Chloe, we’re so pleased to hear that we have customers who are so proud of their local area. We love your idea but unfortunately, it would prove very costly to produce customised bags for different stores, and not very Plan A-friendly. Additionally, the logistics might prove to be complicated. Delivering ‘Marlow bags’ to our Marlow store, ‘Croydon bags’ to our Croydon store etc might be complicated and the risk would be that ‘Croydon bags’ end up in a different store. However we understand that customers often feel very proud and connected to their local area, and their local M&S, so in the future we might try and find ways to enhance this link.
Savvy shopping
I was wondering if regular online shoppers could have the facility to submit a personal profile so that we can provide more specific information on items that may be attractive to them. The profile could include information such as: dress size/shirt size/shoe size/preferred fabrics/preferred colours and styles. What do you think? Fred Simmons, Cleveleys Simply Food Store
Thanks for your letter, Fred. We are pleased to say that an online Style Adviser already exists. You can create a profile that will then link through to a personalised recommendation service. The service suggests styles of M&S clothes that would suit the customer based on body shape, colours and personality. The tool explains why some styles would suit and why other styles may not, and you can also opt for personal emails with information on how to wear the latest looks and new products recommended for you. This service is currently only available within Womenswear, but with the relaunch of M&S.com it might be something we see in Menswear in the future.
The perfect Percy?
My son and I wondered if we could sell Percy Pigs made from chocolate? We could call them ‘Percy Pig Makes Mud Pies’, the ‘pies’ being made of chocolate. Percy is lovely, but for us chocolate lovers, this would be Percy perfection! Pet Chapman, Truro Lemon Quay store Thank you for the suggestion. Your product sounds great fun, especially the name. We do sell Percy in the Pink, a net filled with pink chocolate pieces. However, we do have strict brand guidelines stating that all Percy products must be pink! However, I believe we have the perfect product for you – we are planning a Percy lolly for next year that will blend pink and milk chocolate, arriving in stores in spring 2014. This will offer customers a milk chocolate lolly, combined with a pink chocolate Percy face and Percy’s familiar flavour. January / February 2013
Sit back, relax and play these games Hidden in this grid are 10 words and phrases associated with sports and fitness. Starting in the shaded square, can you find them all? The words go up, down and sideways, but not diagonally. The last letter of each word gives you the first letter of the next. Marathon netball, lacrosse, energy, yoga, athletics, swimming, gymnastics, squash racket, tennis courts.
WIN! This stylish outfit You could be the proud owner of this trendy outfit, as modelled above by our very dashing employee, Matthew, and seen in the press on David Gandy. The prize is worth ÂŁ180 and consists of a M&S Collection jacket, jumper, shirt, tie and jeans. To see more of the gorgeous outfits from the new M&S Collection, and to hear more about the changes in Menswear from some of our experts, turn to page 12.
Want to own this cool outfit? Email us with your name, store or office details at the email address below by 21 February
Terms & conditions Entries must be received by 23:59 on Friday 21 February 2014. The prize draw is open to employees of the Marks & Spencer Group of Companies who are permanent residents of the UK and ROI and are aged 18 or over only. Only one entry per person is permitted. No responsibility will be taken for late, lost, indecipherable or misdirected entries. One winner will be drawn at random on Monday 24 February 2014 under the supervision of an independent person. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable, subject to availability and there is no cash alternative. The winner will be notified by Friday 28 February 2014 by phone. M&S reserves the right to substitute the prize for one which is, in its sole discretion, of equal value. M&S reserves the right to cancel the prize draw at any stage if deemed necessary due to circumstances outside its control. M&S is not liable for any delay or failure to perform any obligation to the winner or other entrants that is caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control or by any act or omission of any third party. The name and county of the winner will be available by sending a stamped addressed envelope to YOUR M&S magazine at the M&S Office at Waterside House. The prize draw shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales. The promoter of the prize draw is Marks & Spencer plc.
Let us entertain you... Why not try this Sudoku for a quick lunchtime brain workout? Good luck.
Do you have some thing to say? Email Employee.Comms@marks-and-spencer.com
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