The Works, the UK’s leading specialist retailer of affordable, screen-free activities for the whole family, has partnered with end-to-end supply chain solutions specialist LTS Global Solutions to help unlock additional warehouse capacity ahead of the Christmas peak, as well as to cater to its growing store estate following its renewed focus on bricks-and-mortar trading.
The partnership, now entering its third year, has become an important part of The Works’ logistics operation, helping the retailer manage peak stock requirements while supporting its ongoing growth plans.
In March 2026, The Works closed its transactional website and moved to a store-focused trading model, concentrating its resources and investment on its estate of 508 stores. The retailer plans to open further stores in 2027 and is targeting a total of 560 stores by 2030.
To manage increased volume, The Works uses LTS to hold stock that does not need to be immediately available within its main distribution centre, freeing up capacity for incoming Black Friday and Christmas product lines.
With both of the company’s warehousing facilities located on the same distribution estate, stock can be transferred between them quickly as requirements change.
For The Works, this provides additional capacity without requiring a permanent expansion of its own warehousing footprint, while enabling its main distribution centre to remain focused on the high-volume flow of stock to its store network.
Adam Bialasiewicz, Head of Distribution at The Works, said: “Warehouse capacity is a critical enabler of peak trading. As we move towards Black Friday and Christmas, inbound stock volumes increase significantly and maintaining the smooth flow of inventory through the network becomes essential.
“Our partnership with LTS provides the flexibility to position stock outside of our core distribution operation while retaining rapid access when required. This allows us to maximise throughput within our primary distribution centre, maintain service to stores and respond quickly to changes in demand. The proximity of the LTS facility is a real advantage.
“Having additional capacity on the same distribution estate gives us the ability to move stock efficiently between locations and adapt our operation as requirements evolve throughout the peak period. This year, global supply chain disruption and changes to shipping schedules meant that some inventory arrived earlier than originally planned. Having access to flexible overflow capacity enabled us to bring stock into the UK at the right time without creating operational constraints within our own facility.”
For LTS, the relationship is a prime example how flexible warehousing can help retailers manage temporary peaks in inventory without committing to additional permanent capacity.
Its 131,780 facility provides warehousing and storage alongside wider logistics and distribution services.
The site has recently undergone a significant £500,000 racking expansion, creating 17,000 additional pallet spaces and increasing its total capacity from around 10,000 to approximately 27,000 pallet spaces.
The investment has increased LTS’ ability to accommodate fluctuating customer requirements and provide additional capacity at a time when demand for quality warehousing space remains high.
Dave Hands, managing director at LTS Global Solutions, said: “The Works is a good example of how warehousing requirements can change throughout the year. They have a clear plan for peak, but the reality is that those plans are rarely carried out to the letter, especially nowadays.
“Stock can arrive earlier than expected, volumes can change and wider supply chain issues can alter what was agreed months before, so having the ability to adapt is really important.
“We have built a very open relationship over the past three years, and that means we can have honest conversations when the requirement changes and adapt the operation accordingly. It is about giving The Works the capacity they need without forcing them into a rigid model that doesn’t work for them.”
With 508 stores currently operating across the UK and Ireland and further openings on the horizon, the volume of stock moving through its distribution operation is set to increase, making access to scalable capacity increasingly important for The Works.
Adam Bialasiewicz believes the arrangement will be equally as crucial in supporting The Works over the coming years as it continues to expand its store footprint.
He added: “As The Works continues to expand its store estate, the scale and complexity of our supply chain will naturally increase alongside it. Partnerships such as the one we have with LTS are an important part of ensuring our logistics network remains agile, scalable and fit for future growth.
“The ability to flex warehouse capacity in line with seasonal demand allows us to support our stores effectively while maintaining a cost-efficient operating model. LTS has consistently provided a reliable and responsive service, and their close proximity to our distribution centre creates operational benefits that are difficult to replicate elsewhere.
“Together, we have developed a solution that supports both today’s requirements and our longer-term growth ambitions.”
