Marks & Spencer

UK national and international chain store. The company was founded in 1884 by Michael Marks (1863-1907). In 1894 he was joined by Thomas Spencer (1852-1905), cashier at one of his suppliers. The company and its ‘St Michael’ trademark (registered in 1928) quickly became national favourites, selling clothes, household goods, and food of a consistent quality at reasonable prices.

Michael Marks, a Russian Jewish refugee, first set up a stall in Leeds market place selling homewares under the slogan ‘Don't ask the price, it's a penny’. By 1900 he and his partner were operating 24 stalls and 12 shops, mainly in the Midlands and north of England. The business was converted into a private company, Marks & Spencer Ltd, in 1903. Simon Marks, the founder's son, became chairman in 1916 and with his brother-in-law, Israel Sieff, developed the company into a chain store. Marks & Spencer went public in 1926, and by 1939 the company owned 239 stores. The first stores outside the UK were opened in 1975, and by 2000 there were 718 stores worldwide, with 294 stores in the UK.