Teachers' Notes

Resource created by M&S Archive.

Knowledge of how M&S began trading in Leeds
Understanding of how a successful large business began in a very small way
Skills of examining archive photos to inform study of different periods in history

The takings on the first day the Cross Arcade Penny Bazaar opened were £175, but all the staff had to be paid and the shop had to be fitted out and kept smart.
- What basic expenses of running a shop have to be subtracted from the takings to work out the profit?
Are there any shops now where you are not allowed to browse?
- For what reasons would you not be allowed to handle the products?

A penny at the time of the first M&S Penny Bazaars was worth about 25p in today's money. How many things can you think of that you could buy for 25p?

Why do you think Michael Marks used the word 'bazaar' for the name of his market stall?

The full-time wage for shop assistants in 1906 was 7s 6d a week, which was considered very good.
- Find out what the minimum wage for young people is today, and how old you have to be to qualify for it, then discuss whether you think this is fair?
Look at the staff photograph c.1906 - they are all women apart from the manager and one other male who is wearing a uniform.
- What might his job have been?
- What skills do you think these young people learned and developed from doing their jobs?
- Are these skills relevant to current employment?

Find out how much it would cost today to buy each of the following Penny Bazaar items: bar of soap, wooden spoon, ruled notebook, set of buttons, packet of hairgrips.

Carry out some research with family, friends, teachers and neighbours to find out what M&S means to them. Design your research using 'open' questions beginning with what, where, how, who or why, rather than questions that will give you a yes or no answer.
Make a list of modern innovative ideas that have become part life today - try to think of things that have an impact on your own life, e.g. they might be apps, things in the home or something that you wear.
Have your own 'Dragon's Den' event in your school, with Innovation as the theme:
- in groups of three think of an innovative retail idea
- suggest how it could be produced and design its marketing strategy
- pitch your idea to an audience, maybe within your class or to other classes
- get people to vote for their favourite
- discuss the pros and cons of the top five 'Dragons Den' ideas