Marks & Spencer announces a special treat for its customers next week – it is kick-starting its 125th birthday celebrations by going back to its roots as the Original Penny Bazaar and offering an exclusive range of M&S products for just one penny each*.

For three days only from Wednesday 20 May, all M&S main chain stores across the UK will house an Original Penny Bazaar, offering the range of 20 different products to M&S customers on a ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’ basis.

M&S Chairman, Sir Stuart Rose and Twiggy will officially launch the Penny Bazaar at M&S’ flagship Marble Arch store on Oxford Street at 9.00am on Wednesday, as over 300 stores up and down the country open their Penny Bazaars for business**.

Sir Stuart said: “M&S has now been at the heart of Britain for 125 years and we believe that this is something worth celebrating. It’s been a tough year for us all but people are fed up with being fed up and we wanted to give our customers a real treat.

“M&S started off in life as a Penny Bazaar back in 1884, so what better way to share our birthday with our customers than offering them the chance to choose M&S products for just one penny? We’ve got two million one penny products available, but my best advice to our customers is to get to M&S stores as early as you can, as we are sure this is going to go down a storm.”

The full range of special commemorative products consists of five different jewellery sets, scarves, purses and knickers; cufflinks, ties and socks; leather passport holders and leather luggage tags; tea towels and mugs; bags of retro sweets, cans of retro drink, beach toys, and beach balls.

M&S customers can choose up to five products each and every penny donated will go towards the M&S 125 Charity Challenge, which aims to raise £1.25m for local and regional charities between May and September.

Customers queuing early for Penny Bazaar products will also be given a free peel and reveal card with the chance to win one of 700,000 rewards, including sixteen regional jackpots of £12,500.***

From next week, M&S customers will be able to purchase a new book, “Marks in Time” which charts M&S’ journey from a market stall at Leeds’ Kirkgate Market to the much-loved international retailer it is today. Written by Helen Chislett, with a foreword by Sir Stuart Rose, the book is exclusively available at M&S stores for £9.99 from Monday 18 May. Twiggy will also be signing copies of the book at Marble Arch from 9.30am on 20 May.

A 125th commemorative edition of the M&S customer magazine, Your M&S, will also be available in stores from Monday, at the special birthday price of just 1p and free to all M&S Credit Card holders.

 -Ends-

 For more information or to arrange interviews, please call: Clare Wilkes  M&S Corporate Press Team 0208 718 8642

Notes to Editors

• *One penny is a suggested minimum donation. All money donated will go towards the M&S 125 Charity Challenge. As there is no charge for the product in the Penny Bazaar, M&S’ normal refund policy does not apply. Legal rights are not affected.
• All items are offered on a ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’ basis and are subject to availability. Items may differ from actual imagery used in advertising and store décor.
• **Stores open at normal trading hours. Around 28 M&S main chain stores open before 9.00am. Penny Bazaar products are not available at Simply Food or Outlet stores or at franchise stores at BP Connect Forecourts, Railway Stations, Airports or Moto Motorway Service Stations.
• ***700,000 peel and reveal have been produced for the three day event. One card per customer on a first come, first issued basis. There are 16 X Cash jackpots of £12,500. Other rewards include: the chance to buy product from the M&S 125 range for 1p; £12.50 off more than £40 spent on clothing; £1.25 off more than £10 spent on clothing products; 12.5% off more than £35 spent on clothing products. Competition is not open to M&S staff or their families. One voucher per transaction. T&Cs apply.

Back to press releases index

Back to top