Latest news with #SharryCramond
South Wales Argus
7 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
M&S Sparks membership deals ‘fully back online' after hack
M&S said its Sparks membership system is now back to normal and shoppers will see a raft of customer rewards and perks return in the coming weeks after efforts to restore online operations. In April, the company took down part of its IT systems and stopped sales through its website after being targeted by hackers. Customer personal data – which could have included names, email addresses, postal addresses and dates of birth – was taken during the attack. Customers took to Mumsnet to discuss the Sparks card, with one user saying: "I save quite a bit of money with it. I seem to regularly get 20% off clothes, home and beauty and lots of more specific offers (e.g. 20% off socks) so stock up when I get those. I also get several free treats a year." Another added: "If you go there a lot the Christmas advent can be good, I got a bottle of light up gin one year. Also the odd freebie and some discounts which can be for the food halls or other stuff in M&S." But others were disappointed by the offers they received, with one user saying: "Just seen by chance that I have got 3 offers on my M&S Sparks card app. Disappointed by how rubbish they are and one is irrelevant as I don't have little kids. Discount on kids swimwear, women's swimwear and linen bedding. After weeks of unrecognised spending, they could offer a free cake at least!" M&S revealed that the hack was caused by 'human error' and would cost it around £300 million. Last month, it restarted online sales through its website after six weeks and has continued to restore different parts of its operations in recent weeks. All online fashion and homeware operations are now back online. It is understood M&S expects to restart its outstanding operations – online beauty and click and collect sales – in the coming weeks. M&S has also brought back its popular 20% off across all Back to School ranges (including uniform, shoes and hosiery) from yesterday, but that is still in store only. On Thursday, the business said its Sparks membership has now been fully restored and will provide a 'range of thank you treats and rewards' to customers. This will include giving customers rewards across its fashion and home products, and reinstating its coffee stamp scheme, which provides customers with a free coffee to redeem after getting six stamps. It is also restarting its birthday treats for Sparks members, with M&S set to hand out gifts to those celebrating their birthday this month, as well as belated treats to those who missed out in May and June. Recommended reading: M&S said it will also increase its colleague discount this weekend from 20% to 30% for fashion, home and beauty. It will also extend a 10% discount to contractors for the first time outside of Christmas. Sharry Cramond, director of loyalty, fashion, home & beauty marketing, said: 'Over the last three months, our colleagues have demonstrated real commitment and teamwork. 'At the same time, our customers have shown us fantastic support and loyalty. These extra Sparks rewards are a small gesture to say thank you."
Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
M&S Sparks shoppers given 'thank you' treat in new cyber attack update
As M&S slowly gets back on its feet after months of recovering from a damaging cyber attack, Sparks shoppers will be happy to hear that they will once again receive a range of offers and treats from the retailer as the service is confirmed to be "fully back online". Members of the Sparks scheme have not been receiving any of their usual offers over the last few months due to the retailer's online systems being put on pause to try and recover from a cyber criminal hit earlier this year. Back in April, M&S was forced to take down part of its IT systems, as well as stopping online sales through their website, despite knowing this would have a damaging impact on the company. On top of this, it was later confirmed that the Sparks offers would be "paused" until "all technical issues have been resolved". However, on Thursday (July 17), M&S broke the happy news that its Sparks membership was now fully restored after 12 weeks of being suspended, reports the Manchester Evening News. The retailers added that the service will provide a "range of thank you treats and rewards" to its customers. For those who enjoy the M&S range, Sparks card members are able to access rewards across a range of the retailer's home and fashion products. On top of this, M&S will also be reinstating its popular coffee stamp scheme, which lets avid coffee lovers redeem a free coffee in M&S cafes after collecting six stamps. Another perk that comes with the Sparks scheme is that the much loved retailer hands out gifts to those who are celebrating their birthdays in each month. And for members who had their birthday while the service was down in May and June, they will receive a belated treat to look out for. The 'thank yous' don't stop there, as M&S has also said it will be increasing its colleague discount this weekend across home, beauty and fashion from 20 per cent to 30 per cent. Contractors are also in luck as for the first time outside of Christmas the retailer is extending them a 10 per cent discount. Sharry Cramond, director of loyalty, fashion, home & beauty marketing, said: "Over the last three months, our colleagues have demonstrated real commitment and teamwork. "At the same time, our customers have shown us fantastic support and loyalty. These extra Sparks rewards are a small gesture to say thank you." This update follows four young people being arrested for suspected involvement in the cyber attacks not just to M&S, but also towards Co-op and Harrods. However on Wednesday, July 16, it was revealed by the National Crime Agency (NCA) that they had been released on bail. A spokesperson said: "All four individuals have been bailed pending further inquiries." The individuals were all arrested from their home addresses on suspicion of money laundering, blackmail, offences linked to the Computer Misuse Act and participating in the activities of an organised crime group. However, Thompsons Solicitors - who are the legal firm behind the class action lawsuit against M&S - say that it will take financial compensation for customers to see any real justice. Thompsons partner Patrick Mcguire said: "Their loyal customers feel heavily let down by their failures, they are entitled to compensation. "The only way they can obtain financial justice is through a class action and not through these arrests."
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
M&S giving away 'thank you' treats to millions of shoppers after cyber attack
The supermarket was forced to shut down its online operations after it was targeted over the Easter weekend M&S has announced that its Sparks loyalty scheme is now fully back online following its crippling cyber attack. The supermarket was forced to shut down its online operations after it was targeted over the Easter weekend. The cyber attack affected contactless payments in stores, as well as click and collect orders. It was later confirmed that customer data, including names, email addresses, addresses and dates of birth - but not card or payment details - was stolen. In its latest update, M&S said customers will be able to use its Sparks app fully once again, including personalised discounts, birthday treats and coffee stamps. The M&S coffee scheme allows customers to get a free coffee when they collect six stamps a free coffee in their Sparks app. In addition, M&S will be giving out over 1.8 million birthday treats to those celebrating their birthday this month. There will also be belated birthday treats for customers who had celebrations in May or June. Customers will be able to choose between Percy Pigs or a Swiss Truffle Assortment Box, a bouquet of flowers or bottle of Prosecco, a punnet of grapes or a packet of Outrageously Chocolatey Round Biscuits. Shoppers will be advised to change their password if they've yet to log in to the Sparks app following the cyber attack. M&S has also launched a 'thank you' discount to staff. This weekend, M&S will is boosting its 20% colleague discount to 30% for four days for 63,000 colleagues. M&S will also extend the 10% discount to over 2,500 contractors from across its supply chain and partners. Sharry Cramond, Director of Loyalty, Fashion, Home & Beauty Marketing and Masterbrand, said: 'Over the last three months, our colleagues have demonstrated real commitment and teamwork. 'At the same time, our customers have shown us fantastic support and loyalty. These extra Sparks rewards are a small gesture to say thank you.' It comes after the boss of M&S issued a statement earlier this month, confirming the rest of its online operations will reopen by August. Speaking to shareholders at the retailer's annual general meeting, CEO Stuart Machin said: "I'm really hoping by August, the majority of this is behind us, and customers will see the full M&S." The cyber attack is expected to cost the company around £300million. M&S annual profits - before the attack emerged - jumped by more than a fifth to £875.5million, its highest in over 15 years, thanks to its turnaround programme. M&S has advised shoppers to take extra caution if they are contacted by someone who claims to be from the supermarket.
Powys County Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
M&S says Sparks membership deals ‘fully back online' after hack
Marks & Spencer has said its membership scheme is 'fully back online' after the retailer's online systems were hit by a damaging cyber attack. The historic high street firm said its Sparks membership system is now back to normal and shoppers will see a raft of customer rewards and perks return in the coming weeks after efforts to restore online operations. In April, the company took down part of its IT systems and stopped sales through its website after being targeted by hackers. Customer personal data – which could have included names, email addresses, postal addresses and dates of birth – was taken during the attack. M&S revealed that the hack was caused by 'human error' and would cost it around £300 million. Last month, it restarted online sales through its website after six weeks and has continued to restore different parts of its operations in recent weeks. All online fashion and homeware operations are now back online. It is understood M&S expects to restart its outstanding operations – online beauty and click and collect sales – in the coming weeks. On Thursday, the business said its Sparks membership has now been fully restored and will provide a 'range of thank you treats and rewards' to customers. This will include giving customers rewards across its fashion and home products, and reinstating its coffee stamp scheme, which provides customers with a free coffee to redeem after getting six stamps. It is also restarting its birthday treats for Sparks members, with M&S set to hand out gifts to those celebrating their birthday this month, as well as belated treats to those who missed out in May and June. M&S said it will also increase its colleague discount this weekend from 20% to 30% for fashion, home and beauty. It will also extend a 10% discount to contractors for the first time outside of Christmas. Sharry Cramond, director of loyalty, fashion, home & beauty marketing, said: 'Over the last three months, our colleagues have demonstrated real commitment and teamwork. 'At the same time, our customers have shown us fantastic support and loyalty. These extra Sparks rewards are a small gesture to say thank you.'
The Sun
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
M&S dishes out treats to millions of customers as a ‘thank you' after cyber attack
M&S will dish out treats to millions of customers as a thank you following its cyber attack. Over 1.8 million customers will receive birthday gifts this month, and those who missed out in May and June will also be rewarded. 1 Today, the home of the Percy Pig has announced its Sparks loyalty scheme is fully back online following the cruel attack. Eager customers will be able to choose between one of two of M&S' bestselling food products. These could include Percy Pigs or a Swiss Truffle Assortment Box, a Bouquet of Flowers or bottle of Prosecco, a punnet of Grapes or a packet of Outrageously Chocolatey Round Biscuits. Sparks birthday treats were among the casualties of the cyber attack for those who had a birthday over the spring and early summer. M&S told The Sun last week it was "looking to surprise Sparks customers with a range of rewards". Sharry Cramond, director of loyalty, fashion, home & beauty marketing and masterbrand, said: 'Over the last three months, our colleagues have demonstrated real commitment and teamwork. At the same time, our customers have shown us fantastic support and loyalty. "These extra Sparks rewards are a small gesture to say thank you.' Alongside the return of the rewards M&S said its Coffee Stamp scheme will soon be reinstated across M&S Café's across the UK. The brand said customers who have collected their six stamps have a free coffee in their Sparks Hub to redeem during their next visit. Employees are also in for a boost. The £3.50 M&S buy that'll make your whole house smell like a 'boujee candle' Staff can enjoy a 30% for four days to be used across Fashion, Home & Beauty, including third-party brands. This is 10% higher than its standard 20% discount. Plus, for the first time outside of Christmas, M&S will extend the 10% discount to over 2,500 contractors from across its supply chain and partners. How to claim your M&S birthday reward Usually, customers receive a special birthday reward, which they have an entire month to claim. The gift varies depending on spending habits and could include indulgent treats such as a luxury box of Belgian truffles, mini cupcakes, or a fresh bouquet of roses. Back in February, customers were reminded to update their app so they did not miss out on the treat. Nearly half of all members - amounting to tens of thousands - are forfeiting the opportunity to receive a free birthday gift. But unlocking the treat is incredibly simple. All customers need to do is update their Sparks profile with their date of birth.
