M&S bring out the brands

For decades, High Streets across the country have witnessed the rise of arguably one of the UK’s biggest retail brands. M&S started out life as a humble penny bazaar on the streets of Hartlepool. Within a number of years the Polish founder of the company, Michael Marks, moved to Leeds where he established a small market stall. In 1894 Marks was joined by Stephen Spencer and from then onwards the company became known as ‘Marks and Spencer’. A few years later and M&S had established itself as one of the biggest and most successful UK brands of all time, with over 885 stores worldwide in more than 40 different countries.

But things have not always been all peaches and cream for one of the UK’s biggest retailers. In the late 90’s and early 00’s M&S experienced a significant drops in sales, various board & committee disputes and was often perceived by many to have a rather old and outdated image. During the 20th century M&S was well known for it’s policies on selling only British made goods and its refusal to accept any other major credit card except its own, but things have radically changed since those days and M&S have continued to modernise and restructure to deal with the changing times.

A series of advertising campaigns, new designer labels and a shift in policies and ideas has revitalised M&S as a once again hugely successful High Street retailer. In 1999 M&S expanded off the High Street and onto the World Wide Web. The M&S website currently includes a wide variety of products stretching from furniture to Christmas hampers. By making various changes and diversifying into online avenues both Sir Stuart Rose and his predecessor have managed to ensure M&S continuing success. In an interview with the BBC today Sir Stuart Rose announced that Marks would soon be offering branded good within its St Michaels outlets. The reversal of this long standing policy once again shows the companies intention to change and stay on top of the current retail competition.