Women's fashion retailer Sosandar suffers sales decline due to Marks & Spencer's cyber attack, downgrading profits projection by 73%
In the wake of Marks & Spencer's (M&S) cyber attack in mid-April, Sosandar, a women's fashion retailer, has seen a ripple effect on its business. Sosandar's products, which include dresses and suits, are sold through the M&S website, making it the second largest third-party partner for Sosandar behind Next.
Unfortunately, since the cyber attack, Sosandar has made no sales through the M&S website. This has led to a significant adjustment in Sosandar's sales expectations for the year to March 31, 2027, which are now £43.6million, down from the initial £46.2million.
The cyber attack at M&S resulted in the suspension of online shopping for more than six weeks, causing disruptions to services and potentially breaches of customer data. These issues have had widespread impacts on the retail sector, including affecting consumer trust and creating a challenging financial environment.
In response to these challenges, Sosandar has revised its annual profit forecast for 2026 from £1.5million to £400,000. The company has also paused plans to open 50 shops over the next five years.
While the exact impact on Sosandar's business is not yet clear, it is reasonable to assume that the general retail environment has changed. Potential impacts could include a shift in market share, increased cybersecurity investments, and a need to adapt strategies to maintain customer confidence.
Last week, Sosandar resumed trading on the M&S website, offering a glimmer of hope for the company's recovery. However, with lower sales expectations for the rest of the year, Sosandar will need to navigate these challenging times carefully to ensure its continued success.
[1] Retail Week. (2026). Marks & Spencer hit by cyber attack, causing disruptions to services. Retrieved from https://www.retail-week.com/technology/marks-spencer-hit-by-cyber-attack-causing-disruptions-to-services/7035460.article
[2] The Guardian. (2026). Cyber attack on Marks & Spencer: What we know so far. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/15/cyber-attack-on-marks-spencer-what-we-know-so-far
[3] BBC News. (2026). Cyber attack on Marks & Spencer: What are the costs? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57088561
- Despite the resumption of trading on the M&S website, Sosandar still faces a challenging financial environment in the retail industry due to the cyber attack, necessitating careful navigation to ensure continued success.
- The cyber attack at M&S has not only caused disruptions to services but also potentially breaches of customer data, creating a challenging financial environment for third-party partners like Sosandar, who rely on the platform for a significant portion of their business.
- In light of the impact on Sosandar's sales expectations and profit forecast, it is likely that the company will need to invest in cybersecurity and adapt strategies to maintain customer confidence in the broader investing and finance landscape.
