Page 9 - TORCH #18 - May 2021

Michael Marks Tom Spencer
They called their new stores “Penny Bazaars” – an innovative idea Marks had tried on his Leeds market stall where everything was priced at a penny – long before the high street pound shop we’re familiar with today! Their slogan was “Don’t ask the price, everything a penny” and its popularity grew very quickly.
It was not the only revolutionary idea. In a first of its kind, their stores were “admission free”, meaning customers could browse without any obligation to pay
and were even allowed to handle goods before purchase, something unheard of at the time. They also introduced receipts,
an uncommon phenomenon, allowing customers to return unwanted items, thus protecting the buyer. These are things
we take for granted today, but Marks
and Spencer set a standard for customer service that would eventually launch their firm into a global brand.
company's charitable works throughout her life. In 1907 Michael Marks also died. But this wasn’t the end
of Marks & Spencer. Michael’s son, Simon Marks, who joined the firm that year, took over as chairman in 1916 aged 28 and led the company for 56 years. The popular home- brand St Michael’s was established in 1928 by Simon as a tribute to
his father and was used until 2000. But business wasn’t the only legacy Michael Marks left his son. As we will read, his Jewish roots were about to play a central role in a higher purpose over the coming decades.
The Zionist dream
Simon Marks began his tenure at the helm of Marks & Spencer by inviting
his brother-in-law, Israel Sieff to be his business partner. It was the start of a life-long partnership and ensured M&S continued as a family business. In fact, Simon and Israel each married the other’s sister!
During the 1920s, Marks changed the direction of the firm, selling very high- quality goods at affordable prices. He
used the St Michael’s brand to cut out the independent retailers, producing 99 per cent of its goods in British factories. They grew the business exponentially despite the Great Depression. Consistent with its founding principles, M&S became known for its excellent treatment of staff. They also recognised changing times: customers were now being able to buy ready-
After the first ever permanent Penny Bazaar opened in 1894 in Leeds Kirkgate Market, they soon spread as high street shops or market stalls throughout the north with Manchester becoming the national headquarters only three years later. By 1900 Marks and Spencer had 36 Penny Bazaar outlets across England and Wales, including seven in London.
made clothing in fashionable patterns as opposed to only fabric.
Sadly Thomas Spencer died in 1905 aged 54. His wife, Agnes, died in 1959 aged 98 and lived to see the business empire her husband had planted. She remained a strong supporter of the Marks family and was heavily involved in the
Marks and his brother-in-law Sieff along with several family members were strong supporters of Zionism. In fact, they became known in pro-Zionist circles as ‘The Family’. They gave generously to the Zionist cause, believing in the importance
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