Latest news with #MarkLemming
Fashion Network
6 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
M&S strikes Australia deal with David Jones
Reports said that as well as the lingerie, it will sell women's and menswear in 24 David Jones department stores and online. The chain has 40 stores in total across Australia and New Zealand. 'This is a market which has always shared longstanding and strong links with the UK and where brand recognition is high,' M&S MD of international, Mark Lemming, told The Times. 'With a shared set of values surrounding quality, innovation and trust, David Jones is the perfect partner as we take our first venture into a partnership in fashion.' As he said, it's a first for M&S as its fashion division hasn't previously entered such a wholesale partnership with another retailer. But it underlines how well respected the company's fashion is, no longer seen as 'just' an own-brand, it also has a life beyond the confines of M&S's stores and webstore. As Lemming's comments show, Australia is seen as a natural market for the brand to try out the idea and awareness of the label exceeds 50% among Australians, it said. That also suggests that a successful initial period could see the deal getting bigger. M&S has had a checkered history with its international ops, opening and then exiting Canada as well as Western Europe, as well as making ultimately unsuccessful acquisitions abroad such as Brooks Brothers. Its more recent moves have proved more successful but were still loss-making in its latest financial year. Yet CEO Stuart Machin has called out non-UK ops as a major 'growth opportunity'. It has a major deal with Reliance Retail in India and it has a longstanding franchise deal with Al-Futtaim across the Middle East. It has also been re-entering European markets.
Fashion United
14-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Marks & Spencer enters Australia through David Jones partnership
British retailer Marks & Spencer has debuted in Australia via a new partnership with local department store David Jones. The exclusive deal will initially see Marks & Spencer's core lingerie and sleepwear range, including T-shirt bras, lace styles, shapewear and thermals, introduced to David Jones stores and its online website from July 14. The retailer's apparel selection will become available later this year. The news was confirmed to Inside Retail, to which Marks & Spencer's MD of international, Mark Lemming, said: 'Last year, we reset our priorities for international, with a focus on offering the magic of M&S to customers across the world. 'We're taking starting steps in Australia; it's a market which has always shared long-standing and strong links with the UK and where brand recognition is high.' To underline its commitment to international markets, Marks & Spencer beefed up the leadership team for this division in February, appointing a new MD for its Indian business, a dedicated commercial director and an international partnerships director. Alongside uplifting its presence in India and Ireland, the company also expanded into Romania back in March for the first time, where it has a primary focus on groceries. FashionUnited has contacted Marks & Spencer for more information.
