Gallery Direct Sonoma™ Side Table - Oak, Oak

Founded in 1844, Marks & Spencer are an iconic brand that provides well-designed pieces that combine comfort and durability.

History and Expansion

Marks and Spencer, often lovingly called "Marks and Sparks" or "M&S", has been a staple in the UK market since its founding in 1884. Over the years, the brand has seen tremendous growth, with 1,064 stores across the UK and an additional 406 locations worldwide as of 2023.

Historically, M&S was celebrated for its commitment to selling British-made goods, pioneering the "St Michael" brand in 1928 which honoured its co-founder Michael Marks.

As they grew, M&S maintained its reputation for quality, fair value, and innovative customer policies, even allowing returns with full cash refunds regardless of purchase date.

Clothing & Home Business Endeavours

In recent years, M&S has focused on modernising its Clothing & Home business, striving to offer contemporary, stylish products that resonate with their 22 million customers.

A noteworthy move was their acquisition of Jaeger in 2021, a brand that shares a founding year with M&S. Under M&S's umbrella, Jaeger remains an independent brand, renowned for its timeless elegance, and is now available on M&S's website and in select M&S stores across the UK and Ireland.

Sustainability and Innovations

Throughout its existence, Marks and Spencer has demonstrated commitment to improving customer experience and sustainability.

In the 1950s, they introduced hygiene training for canteen staff, and by the 1960s had implemented thermostatically controlled refrigerators for enhanced energy efficiency.

M&S has been at the forefront of many retail innovations, from introducing "sell by dates" in the early '70s to enhance food quality, to banning smoking in all their stores as early as 1959 due to fire hazards.

The brand's long standing dedication to quality, customer relations, and sustainability remains evident in their practices today.