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| The ruminations of a 100-year-old M&S lifer | The ruminations of a 100-year-old M&S lifer |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| In its latest half-year results, Marks and Spencer's underlying profits edged up but clothing sales continued their decline. At the age of 100, M&S lifer Violet Butler looks back at how things have changed at the High Street staple. | In its latest half-year results, Marks and Spencer's underlying profits edged up but clothing sales continued their decline. At the age of 100, M&S lifer Violet Butler looks back at how things have changed at the High Street staple. |
| She is decked out from head to toe in M&S. Violet Butler, now 100, has spent much of her life either working or shopping at the UK High Street store. | She is decked out from head to toe in M&S. Violet Butler, now 100, has spent much of her life either working or shopping at the UK High Street store. |
| "In 1938, when I got married, I took a part-time job." She and her husband needed the money. "So then I went on to full-time and became a supervisor." She retired in 1965 but has remained a loyal M&S customer. In all she reckons she's been shopping at M&S for 80 years. So what can she tell people about how this bellwether of UK retailing has changed? | "In 1938, when I got married, I took a part-time job." She and her husband needed the money. "So then I went on to full-time and became a supervisor." She retired in 1965 but has remained a loyal M&S customer. In all she reckons she's been shopping at M&S for 80 years. So what can she tell people about how this bellwether of UK retailing has changed? |
| Not everything is to her taste today. "Their briefs they sell three in a packet. I'd rather buy them separately because they're more fitted," she says. She isn't alone in criticising the clothing lines. While its food ranges thrive, M&S has lost its role as reputation as the UK's unofficial outfitter. It has just reported its 13th consecutive quarterly drop in clothing sales. | Not everything is to her taste today. "Their briefs they sell three in a packet. I'd rather buy them separately because they're more fitted," she says. She isn't alone in criticising the clothing lines. While its food ranges thrive, M&S has lost its role as reputation as the UK's unofficial outfitter. It has just reported its 13th consecutive quarterly drop in clothing sales. |
| "I really think that the last few years have been dreary," Butler says. "I just think they want to remember that there's all ages really. The middle-aged people, [in their] 40s and 50s, they've all got money to spend. They want a selection of dresses and things that are well designed, [that] they can rely on, can wash them without anything happening, and the finishes, the buttons are still on." | "I really think that the last few years have been dreary," Butler says. "I just think they want to remember that there's all ages really. The middle-aged people, [in their] 40s and 50s, they've all got money to spend. They want a selection of dresses and things that are well designed, [that] they can rely on, can wash them without anything happening, and the finishes, the buttons are still on." |
| Marks and Spencer stores are very different now. When she started work they had "lovely brass tills". The transactions weren't automatically calculated. "People used their heads a bit. You had to ring the money up, give the change." If you were on the cake counter you had to cut it for the customer. It required a good eye. "Somebody said a pound, half a pound, you've got to get it near." Some things are immeasurably better today, she believes. "Their food is very, very good. I think it's presented nicely, it's [a] selection for all tastes." | Marks and Spencer stores are very different now. When she started work they had "lovely brass tills". The transactions weren't automatically calculated. "People used their heads a bit. You had to ring the money up, give the change." If you were on the cake counter you had to cut it for the customer. It required a good eye. "Somebody said a pound, half a pound, you've got to get it near." Some things are immeasurably better today, she believes. "Their food is very, very good. I think it's presented nicely, it's [a] selection for all tastes." |
| She's hopeful about the future of M&S. "I think it's changed for the better in lots of things. They're coming up [again], they're waking up." But the true test comes at Christmas. "That will tell you whether you're doing well or not." | She's hopeful about the future of M&S. "I think it's changed for the better in lots of things. They're coming up [again], they're waking up." But the true test comes at Christmas. "That will tell you whether you're doing well or not." |
| Violet Butler was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's You & Yours. To listen to the interview, click here | |
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