Our business model

At The Works, we are committed to offering our customers a wide variety of good quality, great value products across our specialist categories through our evolving multi-channel experience.

Our key inputs

Colleagues

Approximately 3,700 colleagues who are key to the success of our business.
Loyal and dedicated.
Highly engaged.
10th Best Big Company to Work For
nationally by Best Companies^TM

Suppliers

Approximately 220 supplier relationships.
Located in the UK, Europe and Asia.
Close collaboration.

Brand value

Exclusive own brands developed in house.
Clear purpose, focused on inspiring reading, learning, creativity and play.

Infrastructure

Store network.
Online store.
Centrally located Support and Distribution Centres.
IT infrastructure – investing to ensure scale, efficiency and security.

Who we are

Our proposition and how we create value

Design and innovate

Identify and bring desirable and on-trend products to the UK market.
Unique own-brand products developed by in-house design studio and buying teams in conjunction with suppliers.
New product lines launched throughout the year.
Four specialist categories: Books, Toys and Games, Arts and Crafts and Stationery complemented by seasonal offerings.

13

own brands

9

sub-brands

4,400

new product lines introduced in FY25

Source and distribute

Experienced buying team sources and curates product ranges, including popular brands to complement own-brand offer.
Relationships with approximately 220 suppliers.
Work closely with suppliers to ensure product safety and quality control.
Warehousing and store distribution undertaken from 157,000 sq ft facility in Coleshill, Birmingham.
Online orders fulfilled by third party or picked in store.
Leading customer delivery proposition.

c.220

stock suppliers

157,000

sq ft retail warehousing and distribution facility

Sell to customers through convenient channels

Diverse store estate including high streets, shopping centres, retail parks, factory outlets and garden centres.
Fully transactional online store – 24/7 trading with exclusive and extended ranges.
Click & collect – linking stores and online.

503

stores

31 million

website visits during FY25

Our competitive advantage

Our strategy

The value we create

3,700

colleagues

Our people

We provide employment and a rewarding career for approximately 3,700 colleagues.

£55k

fundraising in FY25 for Mind, SAMH,
Inspire and the National Literacy Trust.
Many other local charities supported
at store level

Our community

Our shareholders

We are focused on realising significant growth potential through generating medium-term profit growth and enhanced shareholder value.

220

suppliers

Our suppliers

Indirectly support employment across our extensive supplier network.

Our customers

We offer affordable, accessible, good quality products to inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.

Our strategy