WIND-UP tills and boil-in-a-tin lasagne?

This is not just any supermarket, 40 years ago – this is M&S Sauchiehall Street…

The famous chain was a different world back in 1979, when teenager Pauline McGarvey started work as a sales assistant in the clothing department.

“I wanted to work for M&S after the birth of my son Christopher, because at the time, it was ‘the’ place to work,” she smiles, as she celebrates four decades with the company looking back on her career highlights and the changes at the company over the years.

“The biggest difference for me is how much has changed digitally. We used to have to wind up the tills to make them work every morning. Now I can order something online with just one click…”

Glasgow Times:

Pauline, from East Kilbride, was 18 when she got the job in the Sauchiehall Street store. After a spell in clothing, she moved to M&S Food, and has been there ever since. She is now based at the Braehead store.

She explains: “There are also a lot of diverse food options now.

“I remember when the chicken kiev ready meal was launched, and ready-made baked potatoes with cheese - but the biggest change is the Italian range.”

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She adds with a laugh: “A boil-in-the-tin lasagne used to be popular, and now we have an amazing range filled with woodfired pizzas and pasta bakes.”

Pauline is something of a local legend at Brahead, following her role in last year’s Christmas advert for the store.

“I have several career highlights but that tops them all,” she smiles.

“It was surreal seeing myself on television and on posters in store. I had to say what #MyMarksFave was and I chose Prosecco – and I had no idea just how much it would take off.”

Glasgow Times:

“Since the advert, I’ve signed Prosecco bottles for customers and posed for pictures with them as well. It’s been an amazing experience. I’m looking forward to making many more memories with the Braehead store team.”

This year marks 100 years of M&S in Glasgow – the company now serves two million customers a week across Scotland and employs 6500 people.

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The first M&S Glasgow store opened at 28 Argyle Street in 1919 offering Glasgow customers haberdashery and household items alongside treats such as colourfully illustrated children’s books, produced under its first own brand label, ‘Marspen’, which takes its name from founding partners Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer..

The company relocated to 18 to 26 Argyle Street, on April 30, 1930 and the Sauchiehall Street store opened on November 29, 1935.

Glasgow Times:

In 1966, the Argyle Street store moved again, reopening next door to its previous premises on June 8, where it has remained ever since. It is one of the city’s best-known retail landmarks, situated on the corner of Argyle Street and Glassford Street.

*Did you work in one of Glasgow’s famous old stores, or did you love to shop in the city? Share your memories and photos of the glamorous retail hot spots through the decades by emailing ann.fotheringham@heraldandtimes.co.uk

Alternatively, you can write to Ann Fotheringham, Evening Times, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB. Don’t forget to include a contact email address or telephone number.