Marks & Spencer has opened its first standalone back to school store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre.

The pop-up store, which will remain open until September 7, is already M&S’s number one branch for back to school products, despite only opening recently, according to the store manager. M&S is taking advantage of an empty unit in the centre.

Visitors to the nearby main Marks & Spencer store in the mall are directed to the pop-up by a message on a small A-stand blackboard positioned outside which reads: “Our School Shop is located in the mall next door.”

A member of staff in the schoolwear shop said: “It’s popular because you can bring your children in here and get them away from the distractions of the main store when getting them ready for school.”

Inside the store, the retailer has used its standard shopfit with its full range of schoolwear on show, boys’ merchandise to the left and girls’ to the right. A standard M&S logo has been used above the main door, but a combination of blackboards, graphics and schoolwear-clad mannequins tells the story for passing shoppers.

It is understood that the same unit will be used as a Christmas shop later in the year.