Marks & Spencer Overseas Expansion

Hello Everyone,

I thought i would throw some business news into the mix today as i am in serious revision mode for my final exam tomorrow evening. I was keen on writing this post a few weeks ago when the story was pretty new but it was something i thought was quite relevant to my Strategy and Change management unit for my course. Marks and Spencer's are planning an overseas expansion which I am intrigued to read more about. A few years ago Tesco ventured over to expand overseas and unfortunately they did not survive so this makes me question what Marks and Spencer have that make them confident in this expansion.

M&S plans to expand its overseas profits by 40pc over three years with the opening of 250 stores, including 20 food outlets in Paris.

Marks & Spencer intends to open 250 new stores outside the UK in the next three years as part of significant global expansion plans. Marc Bolland, chief executive, revealed that the high street retailer is looking to grow its international sales by 25pc and profits by as much as 40pc. Marks & Spencer Lingerie & Beauty has already opened at two locations in Saudi Arabia, with 10 further stores planned in the next two years. M&S has also earmarked 20 sites in India for the lingerie and beauty concept, which is smaller than the company’s traditional stores. In total, M&S wants to have 100 stores in India by 2016.

The company has 455 stores around the world, compared with 337 when Mr Bolland took over in 2010, meaning he will have more than doubled its footprint overseas. Mr Bolland told investors and analysts at a presentation in Paris on Tuesday that fresh food, beauty and lingerie offered “great opportunities” for international expansion. Steve Rowe, executive director for food, said: “Britishness is as saleable as ever in any part of the world.”

However, while M&S ramps up openings in western Europe, India and the Middle East, it is considering its options in China, which is on course to become one of the biggest retail markets in the world. Other British retailers have already been defeated in their bid to expand in China, and Mr Bolland admitted that M&S can’t succeed in isolation and will seek help from a local partner. Tesco has already sold a majority stake in its Chinese business, while DIY retailer Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q, said it would look to form a joint venture.

M&S’s overseas expansion comes as it continues to struggle in its traditional UK market. Annual profits for M&S were recently overtaken for the first time by Next, the high street clothing retailer. What do you think about their oversea expansion plans? Do you think they will strive and dominate unlike Tesco?

Dissertation Submitted & Revision

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is enjoying this rather sunny Sunday. Unfortunately, I am not able to take full advantage of the weather as i have lots of revision to do for three exams i have coming up within the next few weeks.

First things first…I handed in my dissertation! Wednesday 7th May 2014 was the day my Dissertation was submitted. I have to say it has been one of the most stressful things i have ever had to do in my entire life…but i am so glad i overcome some anxious demands regarding a dissertation and done it! Nothing is ever simple when it comes to 'Sophia Meola' so i literally had some bumps along the way, being my dissertation was 'too large' to submit on Turnitin that i had to email it over to my dissertation tutor and head of department. Even though dissertation is now out of the way, i still have some revision to do for three exams i have coming up.

1. E-Business Management - 21st May 2014
2. Strategy and Change Management - 22nd May 2014
3. Project Management - 27th May 2014

Constant revision has been taking place to ensure high grades are achieved on the exams. All exams are mainly essay style so i am literally in a position where yo have to revise every single things from each unit as you don't know what might come up on the day. I have a case study for one of the exams which i have been re-reading and re-reading constantly to get a full understanding of it…because it's not really an appealing topic, however, beggars can't be choosers - i feel lucky enough that we were able to read the case study before the exam.

Here are a few things i have been doing to keep me motivated and constantly revising…

• Draw up visual revision posters
• Whip out subject books
• Find a quite space with no distractions
• Make the revision fun
• Do plenty of past papers
• Make summary notes
• Utilise family and friends
• Reward yourself
• Think positive

I have been using the rewards predictor on e-vision to motivate myself. I know the awards predictor may not be 100% accurate but it is something that i have been constantly looking at throughout my entire final year at University just to benchmark where i am but also to see what i need to do in order to achieve a grade i would be so incredibly pleased with. 

What are your favourite revision methods?

My Top University Choices

Hello Everyone,


Today's post is going to be a little throw back to when i was in the process of applying for university. After deciding what course i wanted to study I had to compile a list of five university choices i wanted to go to. It seems like forever ago when i applied for university now so i was actually struggling to remember which Universities i actually applied for. However, after a little trip down memory lane i figured out my top five Universities were….

My top 5:
University of Bedfordshire
University of Hertfordshire
London Metropolitan University
Kings College
Oxford Brookes University 

I was very fortunate and was accepted to study a Business Management course at each university i applied for. Narrowing down my choices to my firm and insurance choice was a little trickier for me, purely because i had to finally make the decision about whether i wanted to stay and study at home at the University of Bedfordshire or venture out to study at one of the remaining four.

After much deliberation i narrowed my top two down too…

Firm Choice - University of Bedfordshire

Insurance - University of Hertfordshire 

So, as you can see from the two choices above, i decided to stay local to study my Business Management degree. For me deciding to stay at home was the best choice. I know people who have gone to university and wanted to transfer back to a local university after the first semester. It's not a bad thing staying local because for me my timetables were so chippy choppy i could go home throughout the day in an environment i knew, study and relax and then head back into university. Sometimes when we think of a university that is on our doorstep we think it might not necessarily be any good but for what i wanted the University of Bedfordshire was perfect for me. I was still able to work and continue my blogging venture at home.

My insurance choice was Hertfordshire because it was the second closest university to home. However, to be completely honest i knew i was going to get into Bedfordshire University because i had over 400 UCAS points and I even got an academic scholarship bursary the first year i attended the university based on my grades.

Overall i am extremely pleased with my firm choice and i cannot believe on the 27th May my university journey will be over. Never the less i have already been thinking of studying a Master Degree at the university. I have spoken to countless students and lecturers who really suggest going straight into a masters as University life is still quite fresh in your mind. I will keep you all updated on that one though! So…the rest is history really…here i am handing in my dissertation tomorrow and ready to venture out into the real world soon.

Good luck with making your choices!

Keep Calm & Finish Your Dissertation

Hello Everyone!

Friday i had my last ever lecture as a Business Management Undergraduate…scary or what?! I cannot believe my University journey is slowly coming to an end. Here is a little update since my last post...

The last few days has consisted of myself and various others of my family reading through my dissertation to overall proof read and make sure everything is looking top notch.

The dissertation word count officially is meant to be 9,900 with the additional 10%. However, as of right now i have 10, 460 words which means i have to try and condense my thesis down by around 500 words. Never in my right mind would i ever have thought i would be over the word count for my dissertation. Like i have previously mentioned, a dissertation in general is a scary thing to me and reading through 94 pages of my own research work is such an amazing feeling! It has been one of the most stressful things of my life but it will be completely rewarding once it is all complete.

I am planning on doing a reflective post on my dissertation journey for you all but i highly recommend you use your eight-month or so time span wisely. My work is finished but the editing process has been such a lengthily task for me the past few days.

Dissertation hand in is Wednesday before midnight and quite frankly i cannot wait to submit my work and rid of the stress and anxiety of it haha. In regards to work i have remaining, i have one more assignment and then three exams across May.

I have been using the award predictor on e-vision a lot recently to see where abouts i am in terms of my grades and what i need to do to achieve the final degree i desire. I am not sure how accurate it is but so far so good. Have you used the awards predictor?

Speak soon

Update & Payments Via Mobile Number

Hello Everyone!

So it is back to reality this week after the Easter holidays. I had a meeting with my dissertation tutor this morning with the first full draft of my research and all went really well. I am not where near finished yet but i can see light at the end of the tunnel now. I have around a week to finish my dissertation with a weeks allowance for binding and prining…it has come round so fast!

Since being a business student i have regularly been watching and reading the news and i found an interesting article which i wanted to talk to you about. According to the BBC News consumers will now be able to use mobile phone numbers to make bank payments from 29th April 2014.

The changes mean that account holders will be able to pay friends, family or traders without having to ask for their bank details. In stead, they will only need to ask for their mobile number, according to the payments council. However, both parties involved within the transaction, will have to register to use the service, known as Paym-pronounced "Pay Em".

I don't know about you but it almost seems too good to be true and almost like an open opportunity for frauds to strike. However, the payments council, which supervises bank transactions in the UK, has rejected fears about fraud.

According to Neil Aitken, from the payments council,"the only thing that people would be able to do if they got you mobile number is pay you - it will be integrated in to your existing banking app so it;s password protected".

Those wishing to make payments via mobile phone numbers will still need to use their banking apps, which require customers to long on to their accounts. Account holders will need to visit their own banks website for more details. Similar systems have already been introduced by Barclays and RBS NatWest.

Hmm, sounds quite interesting right?! What are your thoughts on this new payments method?

Speak soon!

The Plan After Easter Break

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all have a great Easter break…even though i am incredibly jealous as mine is none existent! I am currently in the University library writing up the remanding chapters for my dissertation and it suddenly struck me…what is the plan after Easter break? I know the main plan for my final 3rd semester is to complete my dissertation, hand in my dissertation, complete a handful of exams and then graduate! When written down it sounds so incredibly easy…the thought of everything is actually quite scary! But then what?!

In my previous post i briefly mentioned how i wouldn't be having much of an Easter break and so far this has been 100% true. I have lugged my way into University everyday with bags full of books (very good exercise) fully determined to get a full 9am - 6.30pm hour shift done packed full of dissertation work and revision. I find working at the University is so much better and i have less distractions. There is a library full of books within walking distance and some staff on hand to ask for advice.

It's the final week of Easter break and it has literally flown by so fast. I have literally had to make a full schedule for myself to make sure i stay on track. I promised myself i wouldn't be one of those student how finishes the work hours before the submission deadline…for a dissertation that sounds crazy! I mean if you get the work done appropriately good on you but it would seriously stress me out…eeek!

Looking at my calender i only have 3 weeks remaining to complete my dissertations….2 of which are for writing and editing and 1 week is to get my dissertation bound looking all pretty and professional. Then after that i have three exams scattered throughout May which we are still waiting on the timetable for (we were told it would be released last week…tut tut) and then GRADUATION in just over 12 weeks.

I can't believe the last three years have just flown by.

Speak soon!

Easter Break = No Break

Hello Everyone!

Yay! It is finally Easter break, which means lots of relaxing, enjoying the sunshine and doing pretty much anything other that University work right?! NOPE! Easter break for me = No Easter break. 

I am currently writing this post up from the Learning Hub at the Bedford campus. It is officially Easter break but unfortunately I will not be having an Easter break due to the growing amount of work i need to finish. I need to completing the remaining chapters of my dissertation, this is worth 70% of my final dissertation grade and they consist of the Methodology, Findings, Analysis, working on my Literature Review, Appendices and a reflective report and so on.

I think the thought of writing a dissertation is still quite daunting to me. Essentially it is 9000-10,000 word report but the word Dissertation is just so scary. I really cannot believe i am three years into my degree and i will be graduating in a few months time. The 1st draft and final deadlines are approaching and i am in a slight panic mode and want to make sure i get everything finishing within good time. I am hopefully working towards a 2:1 or 1st degree which means a lot of hard work is needed.

I have been University all day everyday for the past few weeks. I am determined to not get everything on top of me and fall behind…that would not be good. I think if i work constantly hard the next few weeks hopefully it will all be worth it and then i can enjoy the Summer and being a graduate!

I will fill you in on more dissertation antics soon!