Marks and Spencer has recruited a public relations company to help
produce a ‘PR proposal’ for its financial services arm.
Manchester-based agency Staniforth pitched against several firms
including Lansons Communications to win the assignment.
Dave Gooding, M&S Financial Services business development director, said
he will present the proposals to the company board in January. If a PR
campaign is approved, M&S will either execute the work in-house or hold
another pitch.
M&S, which this week announced its first half results, entered the
financial services market 12 years ago with the launch of its first
charge card.
It now offers PEPs, personal loans, unit trusts and pensions and,
according to the results, has seen a 25 per cent growth, but is still
overshadowed by the store’s retail successes.
The news that M&S Financial Services is examining its PR comes after
recent reports that it is venturing into TV advertising for the first
time.
