We run multiple campaigns with M&S, ranging from regular mystery shops and audits involving the entire UK and ROI estate to smaller one-off campaigns that may involve all stores or a smaller sample.
Some jobs require you to pass a training job before you can see them (mystery shops and clothing customer shopping list). This is to set you up for success!
Below, you will be able to find out more about the core programs that run each week.
Let's begin with the one that started it all:
M&S Mystery Shopping Check
The purpose of these is to provide feedback on the store environment and customer experience at the specified store.
You might end up visiting a Foodhall only store, Foodhall and Café or a Full Line store with a Clothing department, Foodhall and a Café. Some jobs will involve a £5 manned till purchase or a £7 eat-in café visit.
Depending on the store format these checks can take between 20 – 50 minutes This job currently repeats EVERY 2 weeks also known as a 'Wave'.
Top Tips from Shepherds: Walk around with a basket. It will make you seem like you're just a regular customer!
M&S Convenience
This one is a little different...It's the same type of check as the main store check but you are reporting back on the smaller M&S locations like train stations, motorway services locations, or airports – great if you’re on the road or off on your travels! As they are smaller they normally only take around 15 - 20 minutes. For the hospital and airport locations we will reimburse you for any parking expenses incurred.
Some stores receive weekly visits (London Rail only), some fortnightly (airports, some petrol stations and high street stores) and the rest (hospitals, motorway services and over 200 petrol stations are monthly.
Top Tips from Shepherds: As these are smaller you have to be a little careful with pictures to try and stay incognito and to also get a good photo in a smaller space. So for this just make sure to take you time and be confident!
Food Customer Shopping List
These are weekly jobs where you will be asked to check to see if certain products are available on shop floor or not. There will be up to 50 products to check in each job.
Top Tip from Shepherds: This job normally takes around the 30-minute mark, some Shepherds that pick these up regularly know their way around a Food Hall very well and can do them faster than this and still maintain 100% accuracy
Clothing Customer Shopping List
This is another weekly check similar to Food CSL but you will be counting the stock level of 5 specific clothing items and note quantities by size (e.g., 15 small, 9 medium).
You will need to pass the Clothing CSL training job in order to see this job on the map.
Top Tip from Shepherds: Look carefully at the colour listing on the label as well as the style number as BOTH must match before you start counting.
Visit Rules
If you have completed a mystery shop, the next two visits for that store will be hidden from you. This is so we can get fresh eyes into the store and staff don’t recognise you.
You can do the same store each week for customer shopping list tasks – there are no restrictions.
You may complete both an M&S Mystery Shop and Customer Shopping list in the same store. If you do decide to complete both you must make sure to complete the Mystery Shop first.
And that's everything! All the best with your M&S Checks - happy earnings!