Market and Social Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Market and Social Research - Essay Example The Company has also revamped its advertising campaigns in other ways to contribute to enhanced productivity. The conversion to the M&S logo spelt the dawn of a new era in marketing for the company. The Marketing Director, Steve Sharp, initiated several innovative advertising campaigns, such as using Twiggy to sell chocolate pudding; a campaign which was so successful that it increased sales of the pudding by 3500%.(www.guardian.co.uk). Another successful campaign was M&S’s advertising campaign to sell white granny knickers. Additionally, many M&S stores have been completely refurnished as a part of the new look of the retail outlet; the internal walls have been stripped down and glass barriers have been out up, black floors, chrome cabinets and skilful lighting have further refined the atmosphere of the stores so that the customer experience is enhanced and sales have improved. Sales have risen from $16,896.2 million to $17,990.8 million in 2008, although the recent recession has meant a sharp drop in sales revenues to $12,876.3 million (http://proxy.library.upenn.edu:2112). The latest developments in the advertising campaign of the Company are a focus on ethics. This is part of a five year plan titled Plan A, budgeted at 200 million pounds and is based on ethical trading initiatives.(Sweeney, 2009). This campaign is intended to highlight eco and green issues and the Company takes pride in its adherence to ethical initiatives even during a time of recession. As a part of this integrity focus, M&S has become one of the first Companies to clearly spell out the exact source for its entire diary and other produce on its labels (Mendick, 2009). This is an era where outsourcing has been increasingly favoured by most Companies as a means to cope with the rising costs of employing British workers and where globalization has produced an intensely competitive atmosphere in which cost effectiveness is vital. Marks and Spencer is however,