Shoppers bag Penny Bazaar offers
Updated on 13 November 2009
Shoppers snapped up more than half a million bargains in the first hour of Marks & Spencer's Christmas Penny Bazaar, the retailer said.
M&S said more than one million customers had visited the stores by noon to take advantage of the 1p products, with some shoppers having queued since 6am to secure the Christmas stocking gifts.
The retailer launched its Penny Bazaar earlier this year to mark its 125th anniversary celebrations - going back to its roots, as the chain started life as a Penny Bazaar in 1884.
Its last Penny Bazaar ran for three days in May and saw many stores running out of stock each day due to demand.
The group charged a penny for each product, as a suggested minimum donation, with all money going towards local charities nominated by each M&S store. The morning rush saw more than double the average number of shoppers for a Friday morning, while it also marked an increased turn-out on the Penny Bazaar in May, which saw about 900,000 shoppers rush to buy goods by 12pm.
M&S sold about 138 one penny items a second in the first few hours of the sale, which was running across 350 stores.
The group's busiest outlets included those at the Warrington Gemini shopping centre, Marble Arch, Liverpool and Birmingham, with hundreds of people waiting outside.
Sir Stuart Rose, M&S chairman, said: "We've had a great start to our Christmas Penny Bazaar. Thanks to M&S, millions of people will be getting a little something extra in their Christmas stockings this year - and all the profits are going to local charities."
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