The Works Shuts Ecommerce To Prioritize Stores
The Works announced on March 30, 2026 that it is shutting down its ecommerce operations to concentrate on store-led growth, citing the experiential value of physical locations. The move comes amid projections of global ecommerce reaching £2.91tn in 2026 and growing generative-AI shopping adoption, while noting 80% of shopping remained in physical stores in 2025.
Key Points
- 1Ends ecommerce operations: The Works closes its online channel to double down on physical stores.
- 2Cites strong in-store preference: 80% of shopping remained in physical stores as of 2025.
- 3Pushes retailers to optimise store estates and omnichannel experiences to compete with e-commerce.
Scoring Rationale
Same-day company announcement with credible sources and useful strategic context. Scored for moderate novelty and industry-wide relevance, actionable guidance for retailers, and high credibility from direct reporting; reduced slightly due to limited technical depth.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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