A report from the Sunday Times suggested warehouses serving several High Street fashion chains are clogged up with unsold stock, with supply chain pressures easing and as consumers exercise more caution over spending.

Brands including M&S, Next and ASOS indicated they are exploring ways to clear excess inventory, including delaying suppliers’ deliveries.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

According to the Sunday Times, M&S has asked suppliers to halt deliveries to warehouses and has delayed finalising orders for next year.

Just Style understands the brand cannot update on current trade but says the reality is some stock has had to be reflowed as supply chain timelines normalise post-Covid.

M&S said inventory levels are (as of two weeks ago) in line with the seasonal plan and, like much of the sector, lead times are normalising post-Covid and it has had to re-adjust stock flow.

At the start of the month, M&S reported on half-year financial results in which its profit was down overall, but sales in its Clothing & Home category were up.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Meanwhile, the report notes Next has returned some stock to brands to free up space, but the retailer told the news outlet inventory “was at planned levels”, while Just Style understands Asos is sitting on just over GBP1.bn of unsold stock, a 34% increase on the year before.

Next did not respond to requests for comment at time of press.

Earlier this month Asos confirmed it had entered into a restructuring phase which will see a review of several job roles across the business.

Toward the end of last month, Asos warned it would look to cut costs across the business after posting a full-year loss and reporting a slowdown in sales growth.

Asos swung to a pre-tax loss of GBP31.9m (US$36m) from earnings of GBP177.1m a year earlier. Sales were up just 1% to GBP3.94bn.