The problem with M&S for food is its neither good nor bad. It's a default option. Take a trip in there at lunchtime and you are instantly hit with people starring at the same prawn sandwich hoping it will change to something interesting. But it won't.
Thing is I'll still go in there for same old lunchtime crap and they should be happy with that. However M&S has shifted to a technique which really vexes me - trying to flog you whatever is there even if it's completely unrelated. Take today, they were selling meal deals ie: "Don't you want to buy a drink with this sandwich?" Answer: "No I bloody well don't." Once they were even selling flowers at the checkout.
M&S like everyone else on the high street is dropping turnover. There are fewer punters walking into stores so the stores have to throw more stuff at them and make them, you and I, spend more. Go into WH Smith's, buy a magazine and they ask if you want to buy a slab of chocolate. Why would I want a slab of chocolate when I'm buying a magazine?
The thing is they don't care. Scattergun marketing works, even at the most basic level, and we'll still come back. Targeting? What the hell?
