{"id":421,"date":"2025-05-22T07:00:52","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T07:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birthdayvoucher.com\/?p=421"},"modified":"2025-07-13T14:53:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T14:53:53","slug":"will-cyber-attack-threaten-mss-hard-won-return-to-fashion-relevance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birthdayvoucher.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/22\/will-cyber-attack-threaten-mss-hard-won-return-to-fashion-relevance\/","title":{"rendered":"Will cyber-attack threaten M&S\u2019s hard-won return to fashion relevance?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In September 2019, as Marks & Spencer fell out of the FTSE 100 for the first time<\/a>, its then chief executive, Steve Rowe, described the retailer as having a \u201creputation for frumpiness\u201d. Just six years later, thanks to clever campaigns, unexpected collaborations and a focus on catwalk-influenced pieces, the retailer has transformed itself into the go-to fashion destination for high street shoppers.<\/p>\n

Annual results, released on Wednesday<\/a>, showed a 22% rise in pre-tax profits in the year to 30 March. Overall sales were up 6% to \u00a313.9bn with fashion and homeware increasing 3.5% to \u00a34.2bn.<\/p>\n

However, there are now concerns that a recent cyber-attack could derail its fashion strategy. Since Easter weekend, customers have been unable to shop for M&S clothing online. The CEO, Stuart Machin, described in-store clothing sales as \u201csofter than we would like\u201d. The disruption, which is expected to continue until July, could lead to \u00a3300m in lost profits, two-thirds of which is pegged to lost clothing sales.<\/p>\n

Pippa Stephens, a senior apparel analyst at GlobalData, described the retailer\u2019s upward trajectory as \u201cunder threat\u201d with a long-lasting impact beyond declining profits. \u201cThe stealing of customer data during the cyber-attack could undermine its hard-won gains in brand reputation and customer loyalty,\u201d Stephens said.<\/p>\n

\n
\"An<\/picture>