M&S article the truth

Reader Submission. Any articles by readers on any subject are welcome.

I was reading the article in the Evening Mail about M&S being too posh for Barrow. The responses by members of the council really surprised me and that prompted me to write. I did post comments on ‘their’ website but none have appeared so far.

I suppose the general statement that M&S is too posh for Barrow is a bit harsh but it is also true to a point. The full magazine article referred mainly to food as I remember and I don’t know of any people who do a full food shop in M&S. Maybe the odd treat now and then but generally it is not a very busy shop. It has plenty of regular customers but is hardly bursting at the seams. To put things in to perspective you have to look at the bigger picture.

M&S is a national retailer aimed at the medium luxury market. Being a national retailer it sells all products at the same price throughout the country. Hence in the middle of London a sandwich is the same price as Barrow. In Barrow a shop round the corner will be selling a similar product at a lower price, while in Central London the same product will be much dearer at a rival shop on the high street. The same can be said of most of the food products in there.

The same can be said of say KFC or McDonalds in Piccadilly Circus, the prices are the same as Hollywood Park. In the case of Barrow these outlets are generally used as a treat for the family, in Piccadilly Circus they are the cheapest place to eat!

If you put the whole M&S thing in to the equation then you see that the prices of the food there is generally not the prices that most people in Barrow can afford for everyday items, as many are upmarket, hence the original statement. To be honest I find much of the food pretentious and only stuck up people trying to impress with labels would buy. The things I have had from there has been nice but that is just plain normal food, not tripe in cows blood sauce with bulls testicles or whatever they dress up in the adverts as being M&S food.

I would prefer plain old boring fish and chips for a couple of quid from ASDA to Scottish Lochmuir™ Lightly Smoked Salmon, Smoked Haddock & Cod Roast for £32.00! In that respect I do think M&S is too posh for Barrow.

To be continued…….