M&S Boss, Sir Stuart Rose for Prime Minister of Britain
59So Stuart Rose for Prime Minister it is then!
Last week I had one of the most pleasant shopping experiences of my life and its not because I won the lottery and had a morning with a personal shopper. No. It was at “My M&S”. I cannot tell you how that concept and those adverts irritated me in the past but, strangely, last Thursday, in the M&S of a bygone era, celebrating 125 years in business, it did feel a bit like it was mine.
OK, I’m of and age and can remember quite a few of the logos from M&S past which were displayed around the store. I also seemed to take a kind of comfort from the slightly muted, but tasteful, colours used in the bunting adequately, but not excessively, adorning the window displays and the shop interior.
But there was more than that. Everyone just seemed friendlier.
Not just the people from all walks of life queuing with me to get to the penny bazaar. It was only after my third throw- away comment to the family behind me, that I realized they did not speak English. But, hey hoo, like all the others they were smiling and nodding. We all seemed to acknowledge it was a bit daft to use time that we would never get back for the possibility of owning a plastic frisbee –albeit adorned with Marks & Spencer Ltd CELEBRATING 125 YEARS- but there we were, happy to do it anyway.
The staff too just seemed slightly more jaunty in their step and optimistic in their attitude than usual. Even the very fabric of the store seemed more welcoming and happier.
I loathe shopping but that short experience had been a joy.
How has the man done it?!!
Sir Stuart has turned round a company that was in decline. I’m sure he would be ok with a country. The alacrity with which he capitalised on the potentially very damaging campaign (the bra thing) was inspired. Am I the only one thinking the MPs expenses thing feels like it has been going on for most of my life, rather than three weeks.?! And the “ piece du resistance”- raising the spirits of the nation, as demonstarted above, ( OK maybe not a nation but as shopping is our national hobby, it almost is ) surely must be classed as genius!
So there you have it. He is charismatic; wears good suites; seems to be good at smiling. His skills at turning water into wine have yet to be tested but nothing about this man would surprise me now.
He is our man!!
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Well our MP is Ann Keen of "Mr & Mrs Expenses", so it is tempting but as it would seem I have missed the boat as far as aquiring a property portfolio goes, I might just pass!
I like your writing style its easy to read and it makes me smile.
Thank you. Mission accomplished!!
Amanda Severn 2 years ago
Great Britain PLC. Hmm. It ain't gonna happen, but maybe it should. I was out with friends last weekend, one of whom is an accountant. His position on the whole parliamentary allowance scandal was that if we paid our MPs properly in the first place we might attract a higher calibre of professional person (hopefully NOT bankers!) into the political arena, and the country might be 'turned around' much as sir Stuart Rose has done with M&S. I like his thinking, and I suspect that that's where Cameron was coming from when he put out a call for new MPs from all backgrounds. (Are you applying?)