MARKS & SPENCER

Marks & Spencer

[Name of the Institute]

Marks & Spencer

Introduction

The apparel retail industry in the UK is a very substantial, entity and contributes to a substantial economic activity. There are various companies that operate within the UK retail industry, and these companies have a very wide scope. IN the traditional perspective the majority of the retail oriented companies that were pre3sent within the region, only had to cater the local demand. However the process of globalization has drastically changed the business models of these companies. These companies can no longer operate only within the customer market [present in the UK or the other European markets. These companies now have to cater the demand developed by the global customer base, which consist of several foreign countries. This is a contemporary market trend which the majority of the retail manufacturing brands in the UK have had to experience, due to which they have developed the relevant international operational facilities.

Discussion

Marks & Spencer 'Internal Analysis: VRIN Model'

The strategic capability that Mark & Spencer have been able to establish over the years can be identified as its brand value. The products offered by the company which consist of eth food and the apparel goods, are not rare or strategic in nature. These products can be developed by other competitors that exist in the market with relative ease. However the competitive advantage that the company has developed can be focused on its brand image as a high value and creative entity. The customer associate positive attributes with the products offered by the company, hence this is the factor which differentiates it form the rest of the brands. This quality is more relevant in the global markets, as the global grand image of Marks & Spencer is strong. As mentioned that the products manufactured by the majority of the apparel retail oriented companies would not be inimitable or non substitutable; however the brand value of the company would have an impact on the consumption behaviour of the customers.

Marks & Spencer 'Strategic Analysis'

Marks and Spencer can be identified as one of the most well known and globally established British apparel retail brands. Headquartered in the City of Westminster, London; the company has more than 700 stores in the UK and also a global chain of more than 350 stores in other international markets. Due to the global popularity of the brand, the company has been recently expanding across the international platform, in order to take advantage of the global phenomenon (Wrigley, 2010, pp. 189). The investment in the other lucrative developing countries provides the brand with an opportunity to diversify its market risks and drastically enhance the consumer market. In this perspective the company has been able t expand its operational activities among 40 countries across the globe, and sis also planning to increase the globalization strategy. The company generated £9,934.3 million amount of total revenues in the year 2012, which is an increase of 2% from the sales revenues in the year ...