MARKS and Spencer has launched a new discount scheme for parents who will be able to save £250 a year by using it.
The supermarket giant’s first-ever baby club, called “the parent hood”, is exclusive to Sparks members and free to join.
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The UK baby 0-2 clothing market is worth almost £900 million each year and M&S holds a 6% market share in kidswear.
Through the scheme, families can save on essential items including clothing for babies, bedding, as well as maternity and nursing bras.
Once customers join the parent hood and sign the “Parent Pledge”, they get access to two initial offers.
One of them is a year-long 10% discount on baby grows – for example, a five-pack of pure cotton sleepsuits, usually costing £15.50, will be £13.95.
They will also be able to pick up a free slice of cake, pastry or fruit pot with any hot drink purchased at parent and baby mornings, held every Tuesday in selected M&S Cafes.
M&S told The Sun that in addition to the welcome offers, customers will also get regular deals tailored to their baby’s age and stage.
The offers include specialist products from Pampers to Piccolo organic baby food.
To join the scheme, customers can visit marksandspencer.com/the-parent-hood.
M&S app customers can open the app, click on “shop” and select “baby” to find out more.
Talking about the latest scheme for parents, Alexandra Dimitriu, director of kidswear at M&S, said: “Our customers trust us for the hand-me-down quality of our kids clothing and with our growing style credentials and a presence in so many communities, there is so much opportunity to grow our market share through appealing to new customers and introducing existing customers to more of what we have to offer.
“As a mum, I’m incredibly excited to be launching M&S’ first baby club – the proposition we’ve created by remaining laser-focused on what baby – and parents – need, when they need it, is something I wish I had access to when I was a member of the 2am club!”
Sharry Cramond, director of loyalty, food marketing and masterbrand, said: “The M&S baby club is the first of our special interest clubs for Sparks members, and we have big ambitions to make it the very best baby club in the country by bringing together the very best of M&S – from food, to clothing, to our cafes – and be a one stop shop for the UK’s incredible community of parents.”
It comes days after shoppers spotted a rather tempting offer in stores.
One mum shared how she had seen a pack of Pampers nappies for just £1.31 in a section of the shop that could get overlooked.
The packs were for Pampers pants, and each contained eight inside.
Taking to the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, she wrote: “Saw this today in Stockport peel centre.
“Marks and Spencer. Which was a bargain.”
How to save on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
When people asked how they could find the deal for themselves, the savvy shopper added: “Just after the tills near the exit.”
You’ll have to be quick if you want to take advantage of the savings, as the woman shared how the Pampers were “reduced to clear.”
Some stores often reduce old stock to make way for new items and so reductions can vary from store to store.
Many parents seemed keen to rush to M&S to make the most of the purse-friendly deal.
One said: “I would have cleared the shelves!!!”
Another tagged her friend and said: “Go get us both some.”
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