Latest news with #OliviavonHalle
Business Mayor
25-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
This is not just any cyber meltdown: will shoppers forgive M&S?
Unlock the Editor's Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. A potential £300mn hit to profits; a month without online orders; gaps on the shelves; stolen customer data and now the chance the upheaval could last until July — this is the M&S cyber meltdown. The enduring fallout from the cyber attack on one of Britain's most beloved retail brands overshadowed an otherwise exemplary set of results this week. The numbers showed the City what every middle class female shopper already knew — M&S has finally got its mojo back in both food and fashion. But right now, if we want an Olivia von Halle cat print pyjama set we'll have to go to a store and fight it out for one. Investors, who have seen around £750mn wiped off the M&S share price since it was forced to pause online orders, were appeased with a 20 per cent dividend increase. But as the FTSE 100 retailer struggles to get its IT systems up and running again, the bigger question is how forgiving customers are going to be. The surprising conclusion I've reached, after spending hours chatting to shoppers in stores and on social media, is very forgiving indeed. Yes, customers are frustrated by not being able to order online and the poor availability of certain products. However, the most commonly expressed sentiment was that they were proud to support their beloved M&S, attacked by evil criminals. 'If there was ever a good time for M&S to have a crisis, it would be now,' says Richard Hyman, the veteran retail analyst, noting the 'deep well of goodwill' Brits still hold for the brand that many of our mothers shopped for treats at. Read More Macy's Stock Rises Off The Back Of Tighter Stock Control In the long years M&S spent struggling with its product ranges, its ability to leverage this affection was weaker. Today, paying 40 pence for a paper union jack bag may make our noses wrinkle, but its recent fashion collaborations, booming beauty business, revamped food halls and tie-up with Ocado have won shoppers back (did I mention the chocolate coated custard creams?) M&S did not divulge any post-cyber attack sales data this week. Despite all this sympathy, it is bound to be ugly. With the outage spanning two bank holiday weekends, two paydays and a heatwave, fashion rivals with fully functioning websites like John Lewis, Next and Boden will have stolen market share. When online orders finally return, will shoppers flock back? M&S knows how to do a crisis; it also knows how to do crisis management. After the chaos in the immediate aftermath of the attack, customers have been kept informed with frequent updates — and importantly, apologies — via email and social media. It was open about the theft of customer data, issuing warnings about scam attempts. Shoppers are angry, but relieved it did not include their bank details. The fact that the Co-op and Harrods have also been attacked, and that a third-party supplier is being blamed rather than weakness in M&S's own systems, helps with the optics. Management may claim it's a 'bump in the road' but this is a nasty wake-up call for all consumer-facing businesses. With web orders still paused, stores feel much busier than usual. M&S has sensibly responded by increasing the number of hosts stationed by tills and store entrances by 75 per cent. It claims it has a 'zero wait time' for shoppers calling its customer service hotline (I rang to test this and got through to a human straight away). Staffing up will be expensive, but experts think the investment will pay off. 'Many organisations not as focused on the customer as M&S would not survive a £300mn hit to profits,' says Jo Causon, chief executive of the Institute of Customer Service. Incredibly, M&S remains top in YouGov's latest customer trust rankings, which polled shoppers after the hack. The true extent of the financial damage rests on future fines, insurance payouts and how quickly systems come back online. Analysts agree M&S should not risk customer fury by rushing things: 'They've got one chance to get this right,' says one. For all his cool handling of the crisis, the dent in the M&S share price means chief executive Stuart Machin faces a £1mn hit to his pay package. However, if anyone deserves a bonus, it is the frontline staff. They have done more than keep the stores open; they have protected the brand, greeting disgruntled customers with stoicism and a smile. These human interactions are crucial and should not go unrewarded. Given shopper loyalty, it is ironic that Sparks, the M&S customer loyalty programme, is truly pants. There have been no offers in the app for weeks following the hack, but before they disappeared they were rarely very tempting. When the online business finally reopens, rewarding the patience of its faithful 18mn Sparks members with a decent promotional event would be a very good look for M&S indeed. Claer Barrett is the FT's consumer editor and author of the FT's Sort Your Financial Life Out newsletter series; ; Instagram and TikTok @ClaerB
Metro
03-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Metro
Everyone needs an LBD and this £45 version from M&S gets our vote
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more If you don't know the acronym LBD, we'll assume you've been living under a rock. Though there is a grey area over whether LBD means little black dress or long black dress, but we'll leave you to debate that one. For this piece, we're taking it to mean the latter. M&S has impressed us in recent years with its stylish pieces, and has shed its stereotype that the brand was solely for the mature woman – aka our mums and grandmothers. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Our virtual basket is filled to the brim, and one staple we are snapping up before it sells out is the M&S Pure Cotton Round Neck Midi Waisted Dress, which fetches £45. In our opinion, it is the perfect summer dress we intend to wear on rotation this season. Crafted from pure cotton, this lightweight and versatile dress is ultra boasts a fitted bodice, round neckline, and floaty A-line skirt that falls midway down the calf. Available in petite, regular and tall, as well as UK dress sizes 6 to 24. BUY NOW FOR £45 The Pure Cotton Round Neck Midi Waisted Dress is oh-so chic and versatile, which is why it gets our vote of confidence. The design boasts a round neck, is sleeveless, and has a fitted bodice, which is ultra flattering. The cinched-in waist beautifully contrasts the voluminous A-line puff skirt, which falls midway down the calves. Plus, it features button fastening on the back to secure the dress in place. The higher neck, combined with the midi-length skirt, provides coverage, and makes this design ideal for wearing to the office, and more formal events too. The pure cotton fabric is ultra lightweight, breathable and comfortable for hours of wear – especially in the warmer weather. Plus, it is easy to wash at a 40 degree temperature. More Trending We can't wait to wear this staple all summer long. We will pair with ballet pumps and a denim jacket, maybe even layer a tight t-shirt underneath on those slightly fresh summer days. If we're looking for an even more casual look we would style with sandals, perhaps trainers, and a denim jacket. This dress will also see you through any summer parties, weddings, and other formal events styled with wedges or kitten heel thong sandals and jazzy accessories. For £45 we think this dress is an absolute steal, especially when we think about the styling options and all the events in our calendar we can wear this number. It's a timeless staple we know we will bring out every summer, and holiday season for that matter. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: Marks and Spencer join forces with fashion designer Olivia von Halle for a range of chic loungewear MORE: Damson Madder's 'It' dress is finally back in stock MORE: Top 6 items any first-time buyer should have on their shopping list as chosen by our shopping expert
Metro
25-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
Cyber attack forces M&S to stop taking orders online sending shares plummeting
M&S has paused all online and app orders days after a 'cyber incident' paralysed its contactless payment system and click and collect. Marks and Spencer was rocked over the Easter weekend by technical issues that meant shoppers could not use contactless payments. In the days since, shares of the FTSE 100 retailer have tumbled to 377p from 411p last week. The company said today: 'As part of our proactive management of the incident, we have made the decision to pause taking orders via our UK & Ireland websites and apps and some M&S International operated website. More Trending 'The M&S product range is available to browse online, and our stores remain open and ready to welcome and serve customers. 'We continue to manage the incident proactively and the M&S team – supported by leading experts – is working extremely hard to restore online operations and continue to serve customers well. 'We previously informed customers that there was no need to take any action. That remains the case, and we will let them know, if the situation changes. 'We remain grateful for the support that our customers, colleagues, partners and suppliers have shown during this time and will provide further updates, as appropriate.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Marks and Spencer join forces with fashion designer Olivia von Halle for a range of chic loungewear MORE: Supermarket own-brand butter officially crowned better than Lurpak — and it's 60% cheaper MORE: Shoppers furious over 'unspoken' supermarket rule that customers keep breaking
Emirates Woman
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
17 undeniably chic loungewear and pyjamas to stay cosy in
Fashion by Camille Macawili 7 mins ago Lounging hard at home this weekend? Nail off-duty dressing with Emirates Woman 's edit of the most stylish and comfy sleepwear and loungewear sets. For quiet moments of indulgence at home, ensure you are having the best rest in impossibly chic sets that guarantee you the best rest. Feeling luxurious and polished? Silk remains the undisputed icon of luxe leisurewear with labels like Olivia von Halle, La Perla, Carine Gilson elevating the sartorial game with beautifully-made pieces. For something more playful yet still elegant, Sleeper's feather-trim detail bring a touch of glamour. Cashmere, knit, and cotton jersey offer co-ord sets are for supreme comfort and lend a laidback, nonchalant attitude on your days off. The labels to know? Look to Éterne, Skin, and Eberjey for minimalist designs that are chic and cool. If your OOO agenda involves poolside lounging, reach for lightweight linens and gauze fabrications with fluid silhouettes to exude holiday allure. A recent homegrown discovery, Astra, brings its slow living ethos to loungewear with well-crafted separates and sets with all the ease of cotton and linen suited to the region's year-round warm climate. Scroll through the gallery below for 17 editor-approved sleepwear and loungewear picks: – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied
Metro
21-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
M&S customers unable to make contactless payments after technical glitch
Customers shopping at Marks and Spencer stores have been left high and dry after a contactless payment meltdown. M&S customers reported issues with contactless payments at some stores in the UK this afternoon. Outage reports spiked on DownDetector at midday, with the tracking website saying there are 'possible problems at M&S Bank.' The majority of glitches affect online banking, while some issues were reported with the credit card functions as well. One customer said she tried to return clothing to the Camden, London, store, but she was told the WiFi is down across the company. She claimed she was told that it has been an issue 'since Saturday.' A customer service advisor wrote on X: 'We are experiencing some technical issues meaning that we cannot accept contactless payments or process click and collect orders. More Trending 'We are really sorry for any inconvenience and hope to resolve these issues soon.' We approached M&S and M&S Bank for a comment. Fans of M&S have been raving about one particular product this Easter – the chocolate-filled, luxury hot cross bun. The supermarket launched the first-ever Dippy Egg Hot Cross Bun last month. The buns are filled with soft cocoa and gooey yellow and white choco filling. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Marks and Spencer join forces with fashion designer Olivia von Halle for a range of chic loungewear MORE: Supermarket own-brand butter officially crowned better than Lurpak — and it's 60% cheaper MORE: Shoppers furious over 'unspoken' supermarket rule that customers keep breaking
