The Works Sale

The Works History

The Works was founded in 1981 by Mike and Jane Crossley, who had both previously worked at British Leyland. They began modestly, selling remaindered books from their front room before opening their first proper shop in Halesowen in 1984. Trading under the name Remainders Limited, the business steadily expanded to over 160 stores by 2001. That year the company acquired 19 stores from failed retailer First Stop Stationery and rebranded the chain as The Works to reflect a product range that had grown well beyond books.

The business was sold via a management buyout in 2003 for approximately £25 million, and after entering administration in January 2008 was acquired by private equity firm Endless LLP in May 2008, which drove a new period of rapid growth. In 2007 the company had already expanded by snapping up 26 outlets from the collapsed Bargain Books and Bookworld chains. The Works floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2018 with a valuation of around £100 million. Today The Works operates over 500 stores across the UK and Ireland, headquartered in Coleshill, Warwickshire, and positions itself as the destination for affordable, screen-free family activities.

What do The Works sell?

Books

The Works stocks a huge range of fiction, non-fiction and children's books at heavily discounted prices, sourcing clearance and remaindered stock from publishers. Expect to find bestselling titles from well-known authors alongside educational and activity books, often at a fraction of the original cover price.

Arts and Crafts

One of the strongest departments in store, The Works carries paints, canvases, brushes, craft kits, modelling clay, colouring materials and seasonal craft sets. Their exclusive own-brand Crawford & Black range offers professional-grade art materials at accessible prices.

Toys and Games

The Works stocks a wide range of board games, puzzles, outdoor toys and screen-free activity sets for all ages. Multibuy deals such as two jigsaw puzzles for one price make this a popular destination for family gifts.

Stationery

From notebooks and planners to pens, pencils and school supplies, The Works carries a broad stationery range that is particularly popular for back-to-school shopping.

Gifts

The Works carries a rotating seasonal range of gifts, novelty items and home accessories. The gift zones are updated regularly, making the stores a reliable destination for budget-friendly presents.

The Works own brands

The Works has developed its own exclusive arts and crafts brand, available only at The Works and theworks.co.uk.

Crawford & Black

Crawford & Black is The Works' premium own-label arts and crafts brand, covering everything from acrylic and watercolour paints to easels, canvases, sketch pads and professional-quality brushes. The brand caters to artists from absolute beginners through to experienced painters, and represents some of the best value art materials available on the UK high street. Browse the Crawford & Black range

Common The Works Questions

When is the next The Works sale?

The Works runs regular multibuy promotions throughout the year rather than traditional sale events. Look out for Black Friday deals in November, Christmas gift promotions from October, and back-to-school offers in August and September. The clearance section on theworks.co.uk carries ongoing discounts of up to 90% off the recommended retail price.

Does The Works offer an NHS discount?

The Works offers an NHS and healthcare workers discount of around 10% on online orders over a minimum spend, available through Health Service Discounts and similar verification platforms. As the exact offer can change, it is worth checking the latest available code on nhsdiscounts.org.uk or healthservicediscounts.com.

Does The Works offer a student discount?

Yes. The Works offers a student discount of 10% on online purchases over £25 for verified students. Verify your student status through Student Beans or a similar platform to receive your unique discount code.

Does The Works offer free delivery?

The Works offers free standard delivery on online orders over £30. Click & Collect is free on orders over £20 from your chosen store. Next-day delivery is available for a small charge of £4.99. Orders are typically held in store for 10 days.

The Works contact information

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