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Marks & Spencer (MKS.L) is to stop deliveries of its large furniture range just months after announcing it was scrapping its own brand furniture.
Yahoo Finance UK is aware that final deliveries are still taking place but from Wednesday forward, M&S will stop any and all deliveries of items that made up its own furniture range.
The strategic shift was announced in April but customers weren’t told when the axe would drop on the range. The high street retailer said it moving forward, it will focus on online sales in collaboration with third-party brands.
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While the specific brands to be featured have not yet been disclosed, M&S already sells garden furniture from Kettler and Royalcraft exclusively online. This shift underscores the retailer’s strategy to enhance its digital presence and streamline its in-store offerings to concentrate on its core product range.
The move marks a change for M&S, which has been a staple in the UK home furnishings market since it introduced its first furniture range and Home Furnishings catalogue in 1986. Items phased out include bulkier pieces such as beds, sofas and wardrobes.
However, the retailer will continue to offer smaller furniture items, including accent chairs, side tables and coffee tables, as part of its core in-store range.
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In tandem with the reduction of in-store furniture, M&S has already discontinued its made-to-order bespoke furniture range, with the final orders closed on 31 July.
The bespoke service allowed customers to customise furniture by selecting specific fabrics and sizes to create unique pieces tailored to their preferences. Despite this service ending, M&S has confirmed that all furniture sold until that date will continue to be covered by its 10-year guarantee.
The retailer, which operates numerous stores across the UK, including its popular Food Halls, hopes to benefit from this realignment by leveraging its online channels to cater to customer demand while optimising its physical retail space.
Yahoo Finance UK has reached out to M&S for comment.
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