Teachers' Notes

Resource created by M&S Archive.

This resource is intended to provide a broad picture of the development of M&S marketing, using selected items from the M&S Archive collection. The overall aim is to show changes in marketing throughout the history of M&S, and how this links to wider social history and world events.

This resource features four photographs of shop fronts from 1912 to 1935, and looks behind the scenes to understand the importance of buildings and branding in creating a successful business.

An M&S 'Birth of a Brand' timeline is available to download from the Resources section.

Curriculum Links

KS3 Art & Design: History of art, craft, design and architecture.
KS4 Business: Marketing

Learning Objectives

Students will understand the importance of branding and style in creating a successful business

Art & Design students will learn to investigate different architectural styles and fonts

By looking at archive photos students will learn to compare and contrast life 100 years ago with today

Discussion and Activity Ideas

KS3 Art & Design

Watch the video of the Tooting store in London, and try and work out when the film was made by looking at the style of clothes and the types of products available.
Look carefully at the detail of the 1935 building.
- How does the style of the columns help to make the building look more impressive?
The columns in these buildings are inspired by Greek architecture. Find out about the different styles of Greek columns.
- Why would architects in the 1930s design buildings in the style of ancient Greece?
- Why might businesses who commissioned the buildings be happy for them to be designed in that style?
We use the word 'font' these days to describe what used to be known as 'typeface'. There are at least seven different fonts used in the signage of the M&S buildings.
- Compare the different fonts.
- Why do you think each one was chosen?
- Why do you think the colour gold was used in M&S signs?

KS4 Business

The photos of shop fronts convey different messages about what lies behind. The transition from Penny Bazaars to imposing 1930s architecture was dramatic.
- What differences do you notice and why would M&S want to make these changes?
Signage and branding can convey messages about a business to customers. Imagine you are opening a shop. Decide what your shop will sell and what type of customer you want to attract, then design a sign for it.
- You might find it helps to look at the font choices on your computer, or you could design one freehand. This resource about M&S biscuit tins demonstrates the effect different fonts have on the look and feel of a design.
Take photos of some of your local shop fronts and decide if their signage is effective in communicating to customers.
Find out what the word 'Ltd' stands for on business signs.

KS2 Literacy

Watch the video of the Tooting store in London, and pick out any words from the soundtrack or on the shop signage that seem old fashioned.
Use a reporting or creative style to write a story about life in the 21st Century, explaining to children 100 years ago what is coming in the future.

Glossary