Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced a royal rebrand in honour of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tomorrow (Saturday May 19).
M&S will become Markle & Sparkle for one weekend only (May 18-20). The official unveiling of the rebrand took place today at 10am at M&S’ Windsor store, which has been rebranded with a sparkly Markle & Sparkle fascia. A traditional town crier made the announcement and a ceremonial ribbon cut was performed by recently wed M&S characters Percy & Penny Pig.
The royal couple is expected to pass by the Windsor store following their nuptials at St George’s Chapel on Saturday.
Customers across the country can also join in the celebrations as M&S’ website, social media accounts and store windows in the eight royal boroughs will rebrand to Markle & Sparkle to commemorate the occasion.
M&S social channels shut down last night hinting that they will be undergoing a very special ‘makeover’, while teams worked throughout the night to erect new branding at the affected stores, which are in Kensington & Chelsea, Reading, Maidenhead, Camberley, Bracknell, Newbury, Leamington Spa, Tunbridge Wells, Swindon, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Lewisham, Llandudno and Sutton Coldfield.
Each feature specially designed Markle & Sparkle windows and décor in the traditional colours of the Union Jack: red, white and blue. Customers in these stores will be invited to take a picture and send their best wishes to the royal newlyweds via Markle & Sparkle selfie booths, which will be installed on the day.
Customers not able to join M&S in-store are invited to share their messages on social media using the hashtag #MarkleandSparkle. M&S will collate all the messages from customers into a virtual wedding album which will be sent onto Kensington Palace on behalf of all M&S customers and staff.
Meanwhile, M&S’ first ever nationwide street party will be hosted in selected M&S cafes tomorrow (at Windsor, Reading, Maidenhead, Bracknell, Camberley, Tunbridge Wells, Leamington Spa, Kensington High Street and Sutton Coldfield) and will include screenings of the royal wedding.
The first 10 customers to join the in-store celebrations will also receive a selection of British treats in an exclusively designed Royal Wedding bag. Limited edition Markle & Sparkle branded umbrellas and flags will also be given away to customers mark the big day.
M&S marketing director of food & hospitality Sharry Cramond said: “As a quintessentially British brand we had to do something special to mark the Royal Wedding, and what better way to welcome Meghan to the family than to ‘marry’ both our names together for the weekend?
“As a retailer we’ve celebrated 34 royal weddings over our 134-year history, but this is the boldest idea we’ve delivered yet! We wanted to spark a smile from Harry & Meghan on their big day and capture the excitement and celebratory mood of the nation on receiving a real-life Hollywood princess into our royal family.”
A town crier announces the M&S Windsor store rebrand, accompanied by M&S characters Percy & Penny Pig
