Marks & Spencer piled more pressure on to its autumn-winter range after revealing a 1.6% decline in clothing and general merchandise sales during the three months to the end of June.
The collection, which will begin to arrive in stores from the end of this month, is being seen as a key test of the store’s top fashion team following a major revamp.
Figures released in yesterday’s trading update showed the continuing woes of the brand’s clothing offer, though total sales in the period rose marginally after being boosted by the continuing success of its food lines.
Chief executive Marc Bolland insisted there were signs of improvement, but comparisons were up against a dire performance in the period last year when like-for-like sales slipped 6.8%.
The poor return from fashion was blamed on the unseasonably cold spring weather and the impact of heavy promotional activity during June.
Total UK sales increased 2.7% with group sales up 3.3%, helped by international performance, where takings were ahead 8.7%.
Online sales were up strongly too, by 29.9%, reflecting management plans to transform the business into what it describes as an “international, multi-channel retailer”.
Analysts Conlumino said the performance suggested the latest progress was “extremely limited” and that while M&S seemed to be pinning its hopes on the new fashion range, problems could include lacklustre stores which put off “younger and young-at-heart consumers”.
Its launch is being seen as the key test for senior figures such as John Dixon, the new head of general merchandise brought over from the successful food division, and style director Belinda Earl, the former Jaeger and Debenhams boss.
Shareholders at Marks & Spencer’s annual meeting at Wembley Stadium yesterday heard Ms Earl say the retailer was “putting the pride back into the brand.”
But the board faced questions from impatient investors, who criticised the label’s underperformance, executive pay and bonuses.
A total of 8% of voting shareholders rejected the firm’s pay award, while Mr Bolland’s re-election was turned down by 4.5% of investors.