Marks & Spencer is turning its attention to emerging markets with India and China top of its list, after it yesterday unveiled annual profits of £714.3m despite tough trading conditions.  There are plans to open 10 new stores in India over the next year, bringing the total in the country to 29. In China, Marks and Spencer is looking to open a further six stores in addition to the three opened in 2010/11.

M&S has come a long way from its’ humble beginnings. The first venture, a market stall, was opened in Kirkgate Market in Leeds in 1884 by founding partners Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. Since then the company has created a reputation for quality and service and the ability to adapt to the challenges thrown at it, where many other retailers have floundered. Whilst they haven’t always got it spot on, they have always strived to put the customer at the centre of everything they do. Infact their uncompromising attitude to good customer service led them in 1953 to promote the slogan “The customer is always and completely right!”

You might be interested in some of these M&S facts and figures –

• 1981 – Year M&S started selling sandwiches
• 2002 – The last year that “prawn mayo” wasn’t their best-selling sandwich
• 25,000 – Number of people who are members of the Percy Pig Appreciation Society on Facebook
• 13m – Number of strawberries the company sells during its peak summer week
• 3,500 – Number of trained lingerie advisors, who fit 8,000 women a day
• 1968 – The year M&S started selling avocados
• 1-in-4 -On average, one-in-four UK men wear M&S pants
• 11m – Number of Christmas cards M&S recycled in 2007/2008
• 1st – M&S were the first major UK retailer to only sell free range eggs
• 7,500 – Number of organisations Marks & Spencer donated money to in 2007/2008
• 300 – Number of awards the retailer was given for its cheese in 2007/2008
• 5000 – The amount of money M&S staff raised in 1941 to pay for a Sptifire fighter called The Marksman

At Proposito Financial Planning we pride ourselves on our high level of customer care and make every effort to ensure our clients always receive the best possible service.  We can’t supply your sandwiches but we do strive to deliver a fantastic financial planning service.