Richard Siddle, Editor's blog

As I ambled mindlessly along to Clapham Junction one day last week to head off for work I was struck by a long, winding queue waiting patiently outside for Marks & Spencer to open. A mass of people queuing to get into any high street store is a rare sight these days, never mind one that has just reported a 40% drop in sales.

Further investigation - ie walking across the road and taking a closer look - revealed why so many people had descended on M&S. It was offering a one-off 1p sale of many items to celebrate its 125-year anniversary.

M&S certainly got what it wanted. Thousands of customers flocking to its stores, blanket media coverage and pundits like myself talking about it for positive rather than negative reasons. Stuart Rose may ooze smarm, but he and his canny marketing side kick, Steve Sharp, know a bit when it comes to retailing PR.

The M&S Penny Bazaar last week showed how much the recession has turned normal trading practices and retail principles on their head. Can you imagine another time when a retailer with 125-years of tradition as a quality operator turning to the cheapest of publicity stunts to get people through its doors?

In our own world we are seeing the rulebook being ripped up. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at £3.99 a bottle. Champagne with a beer bottle clip. English wine winning countless wine competition medals,

The old way of doing things would not have got you very far at last week's London International Wine Fair. This year's show was all about doing business. Serious times need serious folks and it was clear there was little time on anyone's stands last week for timewasters or passers-by. It was a show for those in the business of making money out of drinks.

It may not have been the biggest wine fair of all time, but it was, many said, the most important for some time. We all may now be back to our own respective bunkers, but let's hope the lessons learnt and the business done last week helps us all in the long months ahead.

• Harpers Says...