M&S rolls out new economy signage format

Marks & Spencer’s latest ruse to hit the headlines – to drop its name from 50 stores in depressed areas and relaunch them as ‘downmarket’ stores – has been taken on swiftly and, you might say, a bit too literally by its stores in London’s Oxford Street.

Not in one of the most depressed areas we know, unless you’re there the last shopping day before Christmas, the store has nonetheless embraced the company’s new goal with relish and introduced handwritten signage to its basement Food Hall. Designed in-house, the signs use black-paper lettering and sticky-back plastic.

Look out for phase two of the development – exposed lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling and obligatory trainerwearing for staff.