Hundreds queue up for M&S opening
Golden tickets for the lucky first 200 customers through Oban’s new M&S Foodhall doors were snapped up in minutes.
More than 350 people queued outside before the ribbon was cut and the store opened for business today creating 48 jobs
Waiter Ruaridh Shores from Oban won the top prize of £200 and Margaret Young from Lochgilphead opened up her golden ticket to find a voucher for £100 inside. Others won money off vouchers and cash to spend which soon saw baskets brimming and tills swamped.
Smiling Ruaridh said: ‘I had a feeling I was going to win and I did. I’ve got no idea what I’m going to spend it on though but I think my friends will help me.’
Mrs Young, who made the journey to Oban with her daughter Yvonne, to be in with a winning chance, said she was going to spend her prize-winnings on treats.
Tiny tot Oliver Craine, just 11 weeks old, was the youngest in the queue with his mum Caleidh Craine from Oban but slept through all the excitement. ‘He’s completely unaware of the whole thing,’ said Caleidh.
First in the queue arriving one hour before the doors opened was Yasmin Murray. Her early start only won her £5 off a £25 spend but she was not too downhearted. ‘I don’t mind. I didn’t expect to be first in the queue anyway. I really thought lots of people would have got here before me. I’m happy with the bunch of flowers I got from the store manager – that was a lovely gesture.’
Ann Lamont from Dunbeg said: ‘At long last, it’s open. The carrot had been dangled in front of Oban for long enough.’
One woman had travelled especially from Lochawe and said: ‘Before this, the nearest M&S was Fort William and
before that one opened it was Stirling or Dumbarton.’
Staff had come out offering round Scottish shortbread to pass waiting time and Oban High School Band was on hand to entertain the crowd, and M&S bright pink mascot Percy Pig also put in a larger-than life experience in a specially-made kilt.
Store manager Stuart MacKinnon cut the ribbon alongside his colleague Christopher Knowles, while shinty legends from the town’s clubs had the honour of handing out the golden tickets.
Mr MacKinnon said: ‘What a wonderful start. We estimate about 350 people were waiting for us to open. We had the first 200 people in the store within minutes.’
Andrew Spence, BID4Oban’s chief executive, said it was fantastic to see M&S open. ‘Seeing customers coming from as far as Lochawe and Lochgiplhead is a clear indication that M&S will be a draw to the town which will be a benefit to all businesses.’