Summer Fun - Discover a wide range of outdoor activities, toys & games
In the UK, The Works sells more than 40,000 different products, including big brand items at discount prices and affordable own-label ranges. So whether you're picking up some new books for the kids or bulk-buying greetings cards, you'll find masses to choose from. Read on to find out more about The Works and how to earn cashback whilst you shop.
The Works has been around in one form or another since 1981, and at time of writing it has hundreds of shops around the UK and Ireland – you've probably seen the distinctive blue storefront on a high street near you. And if you've dropped into one of the stores a few times, you'll have noticed that there's always something new on offer.
The brand's slogan is 'What will you discover?' and the answer could be a George RR Martin box set, an adult colouring book, a new journal or a classic board game. It's like a cross between a bookshop, an art shop and a lucky dip; you never know quite what you're going to come across, but you can be sure it'll be budget-friendly, with some items on sale for 90% below the recommended retail price.
The key to buying books at The Works is to understand what it does best. Instead of worrying about the latest in trendy cookbooks and high-concept literary fiction, The Works focuses on popular genre books at low prices. On the fiction front, that means a great selection of romance, crime, fantasy and horror, as well as modern editions of classic novels (budget-conscious English students, take note).
As for non-fiction, where do we start? You'll find loads of biography and history, as well as practical and inspirational books on hobbies and interests, from gardening and DIY to cookery and painting. Reference works range from modern languages to accounting, and you can also get great prices on bookshelf essentials such as dictionaries. Whatever you're shopping for, look out for The Works' regular multibuy offers – you can find them listed under the Books section of the main menu, or under the Special Offers tab.
If you're a parent, you'll know there is nothing better than watching your little ones (and not-so-little ones) fall in love with a new book. Whether they're taking their first steps with sturdy board books or devouring young adult fare such as J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, you’ll find something for them at The Works – and in some cases you'll pay 80% less than RRP. You might be surprised by some of the big names you'll find here too.
The Works has novels by Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, and Roald Dahl, as well as sets devoted to favourite characters such as Paddington and Horrid Henry. Looking for something more hands-on? You'll also find loads of interactive and activity books, packed with flaps to lift, sounds to play and stickers to mess around with. You'll find those stickers all over the house, but that's part of the fun…
The Works also has a huge selection of art and craft supplies. We're not just talking bags of glitter and coloured pencils here – dig around in the Art & Craft section and you'll find discounts on some serious kit, including adjustable easels, large-scale canvases and high-quality paper for sketching and watercolour painting.
In fact, it's a one-stop shop for hobbyists, with special sections for Knitting, Papier Mache, Model Making and more, and masses of fabrics, beads and other materials to choose from. If you're introducing the kids to arts and crafts, look out for deals on activity kits and child-safe paints, including those no-mess magic painting books that parents love.
If your home office is feeling a little bare and tired, head to The Works for a pocket-friendly stationery refresh. There are superb prices on essentials such as notebooks, diaries, paper and pens, as well as files and folders to help you stay organised. You'll even find large corkboards and whiteboards for under £10 – perfect for pinning vital documents or planning out the coming month. Stationery doesn't have to be about work, though.
Look in the Journals and Diaries sections for stylish ways to record your personal thoughts and appointments, or head to Cards & Wrap for those little extras that make a gift even more special. There are more funky, colourful products in the Kids' Stationery and School Stationery sections, which are also packed with great-value classroom basics like pencil cases, rulers, rubbers and highlighters.
It's time to get to the really fun stuff. The Toys & Games section is for puzzle lovers, party planners, board gamers, and frazzled parents struggling to keep pace with the latest crazes. The Works is good at keeping up with current trends – when slime was big, it had a whole page devoted to it – but it also offers great prices on tried-and-tested formats, including action figures from popular film and cartoon series, and all-time classic games such as snakes and ladders, Monopoly and Risk.
There are sections for snuggly soft toys, cool construction kits, and educational toys that help kids get to grips with spelling, geography, music and more. And when the weather starts to heat up, you can head to the Outdoor Play page to stock up on garden games, paddling pools and sports equipment.
Shopping with The Works couldn’t be easier. Once you’ve chosen your items, you'll get a range of delivery and collection options at checkout. Orders over £20 qualify for free standard delivery, but UK mainland customers can also pay a bit more for next day delivery. If you're placing a lower-value order, try the free click and collect service, which is available at hundreds of The Works stores and has no minimum order value.
You can also make more of your purchases by signing up for a The Works reward card. Every eligible purchase earns you points, which you can turn into vouchers to spend online or in store. Add the Together Rewards card to your online basket and then register it to get started. Check terms and conditions before you buy, as reward card purchases might not qualify for cashback.
Need some inspiration for your next order from The Works online? We’ve got some ideas to help you get started. Don’t forget to shop through the links on this page to benefit from our cashback offers.
If you've run out of ideas for filling time on your commute, try putting a book of Sudoku or crossword puzzles in your bag. They don't just kill time – they also keep your brain on its toes and give you a real sense of achievement And puzzles aren't just for boring train journeys. When you're facing a rainy weekend indoors, go old-school and break out a classic jigsaw puzzle.
These days they come in all shapes, sizes and designs, from traditional images of trains and cottages to the latest children's TV characters. If you're a jigsaw veteran already, look out for deals on 3D sets that'll push your skills to the limit.
If you've always wanted to give painting or sketching a go, why not use our offers to help you take the plunge? Kit yourself out with great value paints, canvases, pencils and paper, then get online and look up some local art classes. Even a one-off beginner's lesson will give you enough confidence and knowledge to get started; then you can come back to The Works when you're ready to try out new materials such as charcoal sticks, chalk and watercolour paint.
The Art Supplies section also has bulk packages that are just the thing for those embarking on a serious college or university course. Choose from 40-packs of acrylic paints, 10-packs of stretched canvases, and much more.
If you've been put in charge of a hen party, baby shower or big birthday do, don't panic – just open up The Works' Home & Leisure section. There's a whole subsection devoted to party supplies, packed with everything you'd expect – balloons, banners, bunting – and a few things you might not. Ever thought about adding a piñata to the mix? They're a US tradition that is steadily catching on here, and come in loads of kid-friendly formats, including unicorns and dinosaurs.
You'll also find a whole section for LED lightboxes, which make great inexpensive props. Take a look at the Toys & Games section too, which has a range of sweets and party bag fillers for kids' parties.
So – where are you going to keep all these books, puzzles and art supplies? The Works has you covered there too. Search the site for storage boxes and you'll find masses of options, from simple collapsible boxes to colourful stackable sets. And if you're fighting a constant battle with messy kids' bedrooms, look out for designs featuring characters from popular TV shows and books. After all, the more they like their tidy-up boxes, the more willing they'll be to tidy up (that's the theory, anyway).
You can also organise your smaller trinkets in boxes and caddies, and you’ll love the amount of photo frames and albums available too. The industry might have gone digital, but we think they're still a great way of showcasing and organising your favourite snaps.
Shopping for someone special? Look for the Gifts for Everyone section under Home & Leisure. There you’ll be able to see gift ideas based on the recipient – whether it’s a grandparent, a teen, a girl or a boy – as well as by occasion and category. Once you’ve picked your present, it's time to think about the packaging.
The Works' range of gift boxes will help you to disguise the shape of what's inside if you want to throw your recipient off the scent – and they're also handy if you're just terrible at wrapping. You’ll also find a vast array of wrapping paper and gift bags, so you’ll never be short of packaging for your presents. Don’t forget to add a tag and some ribbon to give it a personal touch!
If it's your fist time shopping with The Works, read on to find the answers to some of the most popular queries from other customers. You’ll be on your way to getting cashback in no time at all.
You can use the Store Locator tool on the website to find your nearest store, or shop online from any location in the UK and Ireland. A click and collect service is available at 430 stores nationwide.
The Works operates in the UK and Ireland. Its head office, support office and national distribution centre are based in Sutton Coldfield.
You can contact The Works by phone, email or post. Check the Contact Us page for up-to-date contact information and an extensive FAQ section.
The Works has a standard 30-day window for returns, but you'll need to notify the team within seven days if you want to return a damaged, incorrect or unwanted item. You can take items back to your local store or post them to the warehouse – though it's worth noting that items returned to the warehouse will take longer to process. Restrictions apply on certain products, so it's worth going to the website to read the returns policy in full.
We've got loads more offers with stationery, book and craft retailers. Try WHSmith for office essentials and greeting cards, or choose some fashionable stationery and gift wrap from Paperchase. On the crafting front, Hobbycraft has deals on a huge range of materials and activity kits.
Even though we do our best to keep the information on this page up-to-date, it may be out of date from time to time.
