Background
Michael Marks was born in 1859 in the small town of Slonim, at that time Grodno uyezd, Russian Empire (today’s Belarus) into a Jewish family. He was the youngest of five children. His mother died shortly after his birth.
Michael Marks was born in 1859 in the small town of Slonim, at that time Grodno uyezd, Russian Empire (today’s Belarus) into a Jewish family. He was the youngest of five children. His mother died shortly after his birth.
In 1881, Russian Tsar Alexander II was assassinated, which provoked a rise in anti-Semitism across Russia. As a young man Michael Marks emigrated to England around 1882. He didn't have much money and spoke very little English. Marks moved to Leeds where there was a company called “Barran” that was owned by Sir John Barran, 1st Baronet, known to employ Jewish refugees. He began as a pedlar, but in 1884, Marks met Isaac Dewhurst, the owner of a warehouse in Leeds. The two men arranged a deal where Marks agreed to buy good from Dewhurst and to sell them in the numerous villages around Leeds. The venture was a success and Marks soon raised enough money to establish a stall in Leeds' open market. He also sold goods at Castleford and Wakefield markets.
Marks worked hard and soon had enough money to open a market stall in Kirkgate Market in Leeds (the largest market hall in Europe). In his stall, Marks laid out the whole range of his goods so that the client could choose himself. It was know-how for the time when all the best goods traditionally were hidden in the back room. On the door Michael hanged a sign "Free Entrance." Today it looks strange, but at the end of the XIX century the right to free access to the store was not taken for granted. These marketing ploys predetermined the future success of Michael Marks. In 1886, Michael married Hannah Cohen, also a refugee from Russia, in the Belgrave Street synagogue. In 1888, the family moved to a terraced house in Trafalgar Street in Leeds. Marks with his wife gradually expanded the range of their shop. Apart from usual haberdashery - buttons, combs and pins, they began offering customers sewing kits. They proved to be an indispensable thing in the period when most of the townspeople patched up themselves, or even sewed own clothes. By 1890, Marks owned already 5 stalls (minimarkets) in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Marks also decided to rent an area at the new covered market in Leeds that traded six days a week. He arranged his goods according to price, with one section costing a penny and marked with the slogan “Don’t ask the Price, It’s a Penny.” This was so popular that he quickly stopped selling anything that cost more than a penny. Over the next few years Marks opened similar penny stalls in covered market halls all over Yorkshire and Lancashire. The goods that were sold included small items such as nails, screws, pins, soap, wooden spoons, wool, thread and small toys – anything of good quality which could be acquired cheaply and sold quickly. Unlike other retailers at the time, Marks allowed customers to see and handle goods before deciding what to buy. He was determined to provide the highest possible quality for his customers, and sought out the best items he could buy and sell at the penny price.
In 1894, Marks decided he needed a partner to help him expand the business. He approached Isaac Dewhurst who decided against the offer but suggested that his cashier, Tom Spencer, might be interested. Spencer had been watching the career of Michael Marks for sometime and considered the £300 required for a half-share in his business to be a good investment. Apart from a huge sum of money, the main thing that brought in Spencer were direct connections with suppliers, and it allowed partners to lower retail prices, dumping in the market and grab a fair share of it. Spencer was excellent with numbers and brought bookkeeping and organisational skills, as well as useful contacts with manufacturers. He also took charge of the warehouse and central office. These skills perfectly complemented those of Michael Marks, who was responsible for buying new stock, finding new shop locations and dealing with customers and employees. This was the beginning of Marks & Spencer. Together, Spencer and Marks were able to open stores in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Bristol, Hull, Sunderland and Cardiff.
In 1897, Marks & Spencer built a new warehouse in Manchester. This now became the center of their business empire that now included 36 branches. New stores had been built in Bradford, Leicester, Northampton, Preston, and Swansea. London had seven branches including those at Brixton, Kilburn, Islington and Tottenham. In the same year, Michael applied for, and was granted, British Citizenship.
In 1899, the first Marks & Spencer store opens in Southwark. Marks and Spencer leased a site on Derby Street, near Michael’s home on Cheetham Hill Road, for a new central office and warehouse. More branches opened as M&S moved out of the market halls and into permanent premises. Marks understood that his customers wanted shopping to be an easy and enjoyable experience. The new stores were light and bright, staff were friendly and helpful and customers were encouraged to browse - with no obligation to buy. The words “Free Entrance” were displayed on the shop fronts to make it clear to customers that this was a place where they could shop on their own terms. By 1900, there were 24 Penny Bazaars in market-halls and another twelve in shops.
In 1901, Marks moved to the Birkenhead open market where he amalgamated with Spencer. The pair were allocated stall numbers 11 & 12 in the centre aisle in 1903, and there they opened the famous Penny Bazaar. The next few years saw Michael Marks and Tom Spencer opened market stalls in many locations around the North West of England and moved the original Leeds Penny Bazaar to 20, Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester.
In 1903, Marks & Spencer became a limited company. Spencer's original £300 investment had grown to a value of £15,000 (adjusted by inflation £1567473), and he went into semi-retirement, moving to a farm with his wife and enjoying rural life. He died two years later in 1907. Michael Marks continued to develop the business until his death on New Year's Eve 1907. He was buried on 2 January 1908; it was one of the largest funerals ever to take place at Manchester Jewish Cemetery - up to 40 carriages reportedly followed the cortège.
Marks was a very well-respected and much-loved member of the community. He had worked hard to improve life for himself and others. His funerals were one of the largest ever to take place at Manchester Jewish Cemetery - up to 40 carriages reportedly followed the cortège.
In 1886, Michael married Hannah Cohen, also a refugee from Russia, in the Belgrave Street synagogue. In 1888, the Marks’ first child, Simon, was born followed by Rebecca (1890), Miriam (1892), Elaine (1902) and Mathilda (1895).