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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/07/marks-and-spencer-clothing-sales-suffer-spring-falls
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| M&S clothing sales suffer spring falls | M&S clothing sales suffer spring falls |
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| Marks & Spencer’s clothing sales resumed their downward slide this spring despite a better performance from its online business. | Marks & Spencer’s clothing sales resumed their downward slide this spring despite a better performance from its online business. |
| The sales decline will be a disappointment for the chief executive, Marc Bolland, after M&S delivered its first rise in clothing sales in four years in the previous quarter. | The sales decline will be a disappointment for the chief executive, Marc Bolland, after M&S delivered its first rise in clothing sales in four years in the previous quarter. |
| Bolland said M&S had faced a “challenging and promotional” quarter in the three months to 13 June. | Bolland said M&S had faced a “challenging and promotional” quarter in the three months to 13 June. |
| Related: Marc Bolland at M&S: the story so far | Related: Marc Bolland at M&S: the story so far |
| But the quarter’s 0.4% fall in underlying sales of general merchandise, which also includes homewares, was not as bad as the 1% decline predicted by analysts. The City will also be relieved as M&S insisted it was on track to deliver promised improvements in profit margins as a result of more efficient buying practices. | |
| M&S’s food sales also continued to increase, helping the retailer improve its market share in a tough environment where supermarkets are embroiled in a price war. | M&S’s food sales also continued to increase, helping the retailer improve its market share in a tough environment where supermarkets are embroiled in a price war. |
| Underlying sales of food rose 0.3% in the quarter to 13 June – in line with expectations – as the retailer introduced 700 new product lines. Total food sales rose 3.2% as the company opened more of its Simply Food convenience stores. Bolland said M&S was on track to open 90 new stores this year. | Underlying sales of food rose 0.3% in the quarter to 13 June – in line with expectations – as the retailer introduced 700 new product lines. Total food sales rose 3.2% as the company opened more of its Simply Food convenience stores. Bolland said M&S was on track to open 90 new stores this year. |
| The strong food performance and better than expected clothing sales in the face of a chilly spring will give Bolland a boost as he faces a potential shareholder revolt at M&S’s annual shareholder meeting in Wembley on Tuesday. | The strong food performance and better than expected clothing sales in the face of a chilly spring will give Bolland a boost as he faces a potential shareholder revolt at M&S’s annual shareholder meeting in Wembley on Tuesday. |
| M&S is under fire for offering Bolland the chance to earn up to three times his salary in long-term share awards based on performance measures that are not linked to financial targets. | |
| Shareholder advisory group Pirc is also concerned about a new executive share option plan that allows for awards to be accelerated in the event of a takeover or when an executive leaves the business. It recommended shareholders to vote against both schemes. | Shareholder advisory group Pirc is also concerned about a new executive share option plan that allows for awards to be accelerated in the event of a takeover or when an executive leaves the business. It recommended shareholders to vote against both schemes. |
| This year M&S’s senior executives got bonuses for the first time in two years after an improvement in performance at the retailer. | This year M&S’s senior executives got bonuses for the first time in two years after an improvement in performance at the retailer. |
| All bonuses were cancelled in 2014 after M&S reported its third straight year of falling profits. The decision affected all 80,000 staff, from Bolland to workers manning the tills and changing rooms. | All bonuses were cancelled in 2014 after M&S reported its third straight year of falling profits. The decision affected all 80,000 staff, from Bolland to workers manning the tills and changing rooms. |
| But after the retailer posted its first increase in profits for four years, Bolland was awarded a bonus worth £596,000, taking his total pay package to £2.1m. M&S employees will also get a cash reward, although the retailer does not disclose details of the staff bonus pot. | But after the retailer posted its first increase in profits for four years, Bolland was awarded a bonus worth £596,000, taking his total pay package to £2.1m. M&S employees will also get a cash reward, although the retailer does not disclose details of the staff bonus pot. |
| Low-pay campaigners ShareAction and Citizens UK are set to urge M&S to pay its staff at least the living wage – £9.15 an hour in London and £7.85 across the rest of the UK. | Low-pay campaigners ShareAction and Citizens UK are set to urge M&S to pay its staff at least the living wage – £9.15 an hour in London and £7.85 across the rest of the UK. |
| The retailer’s board will be presented with handkerchiefs embroidered by activists from the Craftivist Collective at a series of “stitch-ins” at M&S branches across the UK. The group said it wanted to “encourage the company not to ‘blow’ their chance to support life-changing decisions”. | The retailer’s board will be presented with handkerchiefs embroidered by activists from the Craftivist Collective at a series of “stitch-ins” at M&S branches across the UK. The group said it wanted to “encourage the company not to ‘blow’ their chance to support life-changing decisions”. |