Do you shop at M&S? Please could you stop?

I am going out to dinner now with Mr.GG13 (I can assure you all that no Russian Vodka or caviar will be consumed, but hopefully copious amounts of a nice Chilean Sauvignon)

So if M&S break their franchise agreement, tell the Turkish operators to take down all the M&S signage and close the shops, and in return they get a two finger salute, what then? They go to Russia to stamp their feet and demand the signage is taken down and the shops shut? Actually it's down to Turkey to bring pressure on the franchisees, they are part of Nato, maybe Nato should bring pressure on Turkey.

Trisher you’ve had others’ expertise in this area mentioned. Do you still not accept that people have made their decisions based on knowledge besides what you have seen/heard on the media?

Rosie51

So if M&S break their franchise agreement, tell the Turkish operators to take down all the M&S signage and close the shops, and in return they get a two finger salute, what then? They go to Russia to stamp their feet and demand the signage is taken down and the shops shut? Actually it's down to Turkey to bring pressure on the franchisees, they are part of Nato, maybe Nato should bring pressure on Turkey.

Wellat least they'd have tried Rosie51 at present they are just washing their hands of it all.

volver

Some of us actually have experience of international business trisher and how partnerships with firms in other countries work. Including JVs and franchise deals.

Some just like to have a shout.

I'm sure your financial expertise is second to none volver still doesn't explain why you reject out of hand the requests of not one but 5 Ukranian MPs.
I'm old enough to remember all the people who claimed isolating South Africa wouldn't end apartheid. But guess what it did.
Boycotting M&S might help. It might not. But one thing is certain doing nothing is exactly that and won't help at all.

Sarcasm now is it?

Okey doke.

What is it you would like M&S to do?

Remembering that they don't own the stores and have ceased sending product to their franchisee.

I don't spend much at M&S but I will not be boycotting them.

They employ a huge number of people here and are an iconic British brand.

If they are no longer supplying products to the Russian franchises, that should be enough.

Just stop shopping there and see volver.
Many of us were boycotting South African goods before the sanctions were introduced. Why not just try it now?

Because I won't penalise a company who are behaving appropriately. Not just to see what happens.

I'll ask again, what do you want M&S to do? Not me, them.

volver

Sarcasm now is it?

Okey doke.

What is it you would like M&S to do?

Remembering that they don't own the stores and have ceased sending product to their franchisee.

I’d like to know that too.
What do you want M&S to do?
It’s easy to say what you want shoppers to do but what do you want M&S to do over and above what the above post says.
I don’t have the financial expertise that’s been expressed.
What are you prepared to do?
Will you be spearheading a venture to go to Russia to stamp your feet and demand the signage is taken down and the shops shut if the Turkish operators refuse to do so?

varian

I don't spend much at M&S but I will not be boycotting them.

They employ a huge number of people here and are an iconic British brand.

If they are no longer supplying products to the Russian franchises, that should be enough.

Agree varian. That’s exactly what I think.

GG enjoy your dinner. I’m envious because we had afternoon tea booked at a nice hotel in the New Forest but had to cancel as I’ve had a tummy bug the last couple of days unfortunately, though I’m feeling much better now. It’s my birthday too ?.
I don’t think we’d have been eating anything Russian either.

trisher

Just stop shopping there and see volver.
Many of us were boycotting South African goods before the sanctions were introduced. Why not just try it now?

Of course you were. More virtue signalling.

Everyone on here is an adult, capable of making their own decisions. You appear to be under the misapprehension that you know it all - you don't.

Just to be clear, I have very little financial expertise. But I have been involved in cross-border Joint Ventures, importer agreements, agent agreements and the like.

Always be clear about your credentials, or someone will come back and challenge you later.

But the 5 Ukrainian MPs have asked you not to shop there.
As a matter of fact M&S could try doing what Burger King are doing withdrawing all support (not just shipping). Looking to divest themselves of any financial investment in FIBa or any of its subsidiaries. Donate any money they make from the franchise to Ukraine. Up the amount they are donating to UNCHR (Burger King are giving more)
They are doing the bare minimum just now.

Burger King, I believe, are in a JV with Alexander Kolobov and own 15% of the business in Russia. So they are in the process of divesting themselves of the 15% but will probably still make profit on that 15% for now and that is what they are pledging to Ukrainian charities.

M&S probably do not have financial investment in FIBA but FIBA probably pay them a franchising fee to use the name and M&S Products. (Products they are no longer getting, of course.) I would guess that the franchise agreement covers several years and the money that M&S have pledged to international charities operating in Ukraine will negate any income from future franchise fees, if there are any. If you want them to donate money to Ukraine in particular, write to them and suggest it.

The MP last night also mentioned how British Tobacco are still operating in Russia, but there is no such company. British American Tobacco announced a week ago that they are withdrawing from Russia.

You do what you want to do, I'll do what I want to do.

What are you doing trisher, apart from not shopping there? I’m sure I asked that earlier, but I don’t want to be accused of misinterpreting your answer?

Mollygo

What are you doing trisher, apart from not shopping there? I’m sure I asked that earlier, but I don’t want to be accused of misinterpreting your answer?

Mollygo this thread is about M&S if you want to start a thread asking what people are doing about Ukraine you can do so. I do wonder why you feel the need to follow me from thread to thread pretending you have any interest in my views and then misrepresenting them completely

M and A have been a brilliant employer to my relatives in the past ...I will always shop there ,when you think of all the high st shops that have gone in the past few years i feel I can depend on them so please Trisha stop this ridiculous thread

M and S

Marks and Spencer are excellent employers Pudding123, I worked for them many years ago too. Very supportive and caring of their staff, supportive of local charities and communities and ethnically minded. I'll continue to give them my custom for those reasons and all the sensible, more intelligent and well informed reasons raised in this thread.

No trisher I’m not misrepresenting your views. Perhaps I need to simplify what I said to make it easier for you to grasp.
What are you doing about M&S apart from not shopping there? Are you placard waving outside stores to raise awareness?
Are you tweeting the Turkish franchises to raise awareness that they need to stop trading in Russia under the M&S brand?

When the Manchester Arndale bomb went off, M and S arranged for its staff to be taken home. They arranged lock smiths as keys were often left behind in the evacuation.

aonk

I have no intention of stopping shopping in M and S. There is no reason to do so. As for the comments about dates on food I have never bought anything in my local store which wasn’t absolutely fine. It’s important to read news items thoroughly before jumping to conclusions.

Lucky you. I have taken food back many times to our local M&S store. Also got food home to discover it should have been reduced due to date. I still shop there (although will be thinking about it now) as they sell many products I like.

I don't live anywhere near an M&S, although there is a petrol station which does M&S Simply Food. I do buy the odd swiss roll, or something, there just occasionally. I will stop.