Where to Find Marks & Spencer And The History of Your Shops and Brands

 

The Origin of Marks

 The name Marks means son of Mark. Michael Marks was Jewish, as were many people in what was known as the rag trade. He had started a successful little business selling clothes in the market in Leeds, England. Later he wanted to expand. 

Meeting Spencer

He approached somebody who supplied him with goods.Would they like to invest some money and have a half share in the expanding company and profits? The man he approached, said no, but my accountant, Spencer, might be interested. Spencer was interested. 

Spencer was not Jewish. He was a Christian. How do I know and how can you check? Spencer and his wife are buried in a church cemetery.

St Michael

St Michael was the brand name Marks chose to honour and recall  and commemorate the name of his beloved late father Michael. I always wondered why a 'Jewish' company would have a brand which sounded christian. Now I have the answer. The compnay\s owners, like their customers were a mixture of religions. They all knew the English word saint. 

Marks and Spencer set out to be saintly, reliable. Classic clothes. Long-lasting. Quality control. Straight, firm seams. Spare buttons. Firmly inserted zips. 

The company expanded over the years. Now they are in Singapore, all over the world.

You can find their shops in major malls. And online. 

If you want to explore history, as well as see modern shops, plaques recalling them and their start are in Leeds, England.

I went to Marks & Spencer in London earlier this year and bought ladies underwear, sets of

Marks & Spencer brands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marks_%26_Spencer_brands

Useful Websites

Marks

https://www.marksandspencer.com/

wiki marks

Please share links to your favourite blog posts.

Need a Holiday? Isolation is the dream-killer, not your attitude | Barbara Sher | TEDxPr...

1 I like the story of the accountant in the USA who wanted to to be a cowboy, and ended up doing accounts in exchange for unpaid work experience. Another story concerns a woman who wants to take a cruise which she cannot afford but also has to look after a daughter. Both her problems are solved.

2 Another possiblility is a home swap.

3 Work on a kibbutz in Israel.

4 If you can't afford to travel, offer a room for free to foreigners and learn about their lives.

5 A member of my family went to work on a vineyard at harvest time. He worked in their office and learned all about the business and got the same free dinner with wine as the harvest workers.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Recording Travel Expenses For Employers + Tax Returns: New (Tax) Year's Resolution

Problem
Oops - I've completely lost track!

Answers
Do it every week, same time of day, Friday afternoon or night, Saturday morning, Sunday night.

Here are some of the things for which you might need to claim or keep records. Even if you are not claiming, you might want to check. Where did the petty cash go? Why have I spent so much? Have I been robbed, or did I spend the money? Was my free lunch worthwhile if I had to take a taxi?

Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly Outgoings
It helps to anticipate when the big bills will come in. I got a shock when I saw I was due for a three-figure sum for quarterly maintenance on a flat. How could I pay that out of monthly income!

Then I realised that although the quarterly sum was total was provided for information; I was actually paying monthly. So a third of that sum was due to be paid.

Car Miles And Petrol
Keep a notebook in the car for mileage.
Mark number of miles per journey; reason for journey, mileage on clock at start, mileage at end.
Receipts for petrol can be stapled into the book.
Alternatively, the allowance for depreciation on the car used for business can be allowed. (In the UK not for going to and from work but other excursions.) New Tyres, air, petrol, annual service, car wash?
Check what is currently allowed with your accountant / tax consultant / the tax collector. (NB rules in the USA for the IRA will be different, and tax is different for every state as well as the USA as a whole.)

Alternatively, use the AA (Automile Association) or tax allowance calculator.

Subsistence - food
When I last looked it was something like a certain allowance if you were so many miles from your home / office.
Keep all receipts, both as evidence if you are challenged by the tax office, and to remind yourself.

Next year I shall be much better organized! Didn't I say that last year?

Stationery
Box files, paper, printing, postage stamps.

Insurance.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.