This week, M&S is launching a bookable suit fitting service in 25 of its biggest UK stores, following a trial in five Scottish locations. This service allows men the convenience of booking a slot for suit styling and fitting (an option that wasn’t available pre-pandemic). Alongside this new service the retailer continues to offer walk in appointments in stores with an extensive suit offer and as part of its digital stores programme, M&S has launched an online consultation service – with immediate video calls and virtual appointments both available on M&S.com. These sessions take place with experienced M&S menswear colleagues and follow the successful rollout of video consultations for bra fittings and furniture shopping.
New in-store service
The bookable in-store sessions offer customers a personalised consultation with a specially trained suit fitter to explore different styles – perfect for those with a special event but also for those just looking to get some style tips on a more relaxed/smart look for returning to the office. Customers fill in a short form ahead of their appointment, allowing the fitter to prepare some options in advance and making the service seamless and convenient. As well as exploring different styles and trying on various options, customers are measured – so they can purchase with complete confidence that it’s the correct size. With the option to attend as a group, the service is expected to be particularly popular with grooms and their wedding party. Since restrictions have eased M&S has been playing into the upcoming wedding season in a number of ways – including an ongoing “Groom Goes Free – Buy 3 Suits, Get the 4th Free” offer. M&S.com is also packed with style ideas for grooms and male wedding guests (especially important after a year in loungewear). So far for this wedding season the Linen Miracle™ offer and the £99 Stretch Suit have been customers’ favourites.
As with M&S’s lingerie fitting service, stores will be adhering to all necessary measures to ensure the health & wellbeing of all colleagues and customers.
M&S Stores who will Offer the Bookable Suit Fitting include:
- Aberdeen
- Argyle St Glasgow
- Bluewater
- Braehead
- Bromley
- Camberley
- Cheshire Oaks
- Cribbs Causeway
- Culverhouse Cross
- Fosse Park
- Gyle
- Handforth
- Hedge End
- Kingston
- Lisburn
- London Colney
- Marble Arch
- Meadowhall
- Metro Centre
- Milton Keynes
- Pantheon, Oxford Street
- Pollok Glasgow
- Stratford City London
- Thurrock
- Trafford Centre
(stores in bold are those with the biggest suit offering)
‘Smart Redefined’
Whilst the service is centred around suits (as this is an area where customers often need more bespoke help), M&S’s online and in-store services also offer customers the opportunity to explore more casual items alongside formalwear and how they can be dressed together. With the pandemic fast-forwarding the casualisation of mens’ dressing (particularly for the workplace) the retailer has been adapting its offer – including its new Smart Edit – “Smart, Redefined.” This brings together smart items that can be worn as separates or together for a variety of occasions, so far the £35 360 Flex Trouser with a half elasticated waist and the jersey smart separates have been very popular such as the £79 Autograph slim fit jersey blazer.
Wes Taylor, M&S Menswear Director said, “As restrictions have eased customer interest in suits both online and in-store has picked up. We know our customers will be dressing more casually in the future which is why when they do purchase a suit – be it for a wedding, the races, a prom – we need to make it even easier, with services like bookable in-store suit fitting or our new online video consultations. Alongside our suit offer we also continue to focus on offering easy to wear, stylish smart clothing that can be worn in lots of different ways – ideal for those who are beginning to think about what to wear for a return to the office.”
As well as introducing a more casual and relaxed product mix into tailoring, M&S has adapted some of its smarter styles with innovations including stretch fabrics on tailored jackets and drawcord waistbands on trousers to ensure customers are comfortable, even in their formalwear. M&S menswear continue to focus on offering great style, fit and value – the ultimate suit at £149 remains the retailer’s bestseller in formal.
