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* M&S to offer Hobbs, White Stuff and Sloggi brands online
* New brands aim to broaden appeal of clothing business
* Clothing sales have been hammered by lockdowns
By James Davey
LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - Britain's Marks & Spencer
said on Thursday it would launch a wave of guest
clothing brands on its website this spring, including Hobbs,
White Stuff, Joules and Sloggi, in bid to accelerate online
growth.
The UK's clothing sector has been hammered by COVID-19
lockdowns, forcing retailers to rely on online channels.
M&S Chief Executive Steve Rowe said last year the group,
still Britain's biggest clothing retailer by value, was shifting
strategy and would sell other brands to broaden its appeal.
In September, it partnered online with Nobody’s Child and
has also collaborated with Early Learning Centre. In January,
M&S purchased the Jaeger brand.
It said other brands coming online through March, April and
May would be: Phase Eight, Sosandar, Triumph, JACK & JONES,
Seasalt Cornwall, Y.A.S. and SELECTED HOMME/SELECTED FEMME.
The first wave of guest brands would be marketed and sold
under the banner "Brands at M&S".
M&S said nearly 10% of customers who have purchased Nobody’s
Child women's clothes were new to M&S womenswear.
The new brands would be available in stores in future, it
said.
When the pandemic hit, M&S was in the middle of its latest
plan to improve its fortunes, including cost cuts and store
closures. Rowe said those measures would be accelerated.
(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Edmund Blair)
