Kevin Harrington // marketing // blog

Surely the vague adoption of clothes/dress sizes within UK fashion retailers is tantamount to deceit?

An online survey of 1,000 women, indicated that 15% bought a bigger dress size than they expected when shopping at Primark.

Top Shop and New Look were also named as stores with smaller sizing.

Marks & Spencer, Asda’s George brand and Next had the most generous sizes.

Source: BBC Business News

Why can’t a 12 be a 12?

How many returns are there a year simply because retailers choose a different definition of size?

Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue if a mans 17″ shirt changed a size or two from shop to shop?

Is charging for carrier bags a tax on impromptu shopping?

While I was in Reading earlier today I suddenly decided to buy some cheese scones from Marks & Spencer. There was a moment of panic as I couldn’t find them…they are a favourite and once I get the idea my mind it can become obsessional. No problem though, someone had swapped their shelf place with the fruit scones.

As I had not planned to buy anything I had no bags with me. Is it therefore right that I should pay 5p for a carrier bag. By my estimation M&S would make a large profit on the deal. And more importantly:

Plan A: We should cease impromptu shopping.
Plan B: Marks & Spencer should rethink their high and mighty salvation of the world campaign.

Take your pick.

Lauren and Sarah, you can add your opinions as well

I was off to a BBQ at the home of a French man yesterday. I thought I’d take a couple of bottles of English wine.

So off I trotted to Marks & Spencers at The Meadows near Camberley. Not a bottle of English wine in site.

Then I wnt to the Tesco megastore next door. Hundreds of wines from all over the world: but just one English wine on sale.

English wine manufacturing may have made great strides in recent years but, from my experience, the distribution is lagging behind!

The English Wine website:

Key facts about English wine

1. There are around 400 English vineyards
2. ‘Quality wines’ are subject to rigorous controls
3. Where’s the biggest English vineyard? Only 20 miles from London (Denbies, Dorking – 250 acres))
4. Whites – wide variety, but traditional English whites have very floral bouquet & high acidity – very refreshing!
5. Reds – Once thought impossible – but it is and they vary from light, thru mellow and even full-bodied
6. Sparkling – The great success story – similar soils to champagne and edgier climate mean truly great English sparkling wines – as evidenced in international competitions”