MARKS and Spencer is closing a key service in hours as part of a major shake-up, leaving some shoppers disappointed.
From the end of today, the retailer will no longer offer its made-to-order range.
And later this year, it will stop selling bulkier and larger own-brand pieces of furniture, including beds, sofas, wardrobes, and garden furniture.
Sales of the made-to-order range, which allows shoppers to choose from different options such as fabric and size to create a bespoke piece, will end today.
As part of the shake-up, M&S said it will work with third-party brands to sell these products on its website.
The retailer already stocks garden furniture from Kettler and Royalcraft.
These brands are currently only available online and it is understood M&S doesn’t plan to sell furniture from other brands in-store.
The company said that during the shake-up, it will focus on growing its core home range, including bed, bath, cook and dine, as well as home accessories and fragrances.
Following the announcement earlier this year, many customers were left saddened by the retailer’s move, with one describing it as “a bad decision”.
Writing in the Marks & Spencer UK – Fans/Have Your Say Facebook group, one customer said: “Oh dear, that is sad. All our dining furniture is from M&S, and our kitchen chairs.
“I wonder why that is. That will be less to look at in stores.”
A second added: “Very sad. I sold furniture for 27 years at the Fosse Park store and loved every minute!”
Another user replied to the comment, writing: “Very sad! All of my furniture is M&S! A bad decision in my opinion.”
A fourth cried: “It’s going to make some of their larger stores look desolate.”
M&S will still continue to sell smaller furniture items such as accent chairs, side tables, and coffee tables.
It will then stop selling larger furniture items in the autumn, but an exact date has not been announced yet.
All furniture will continue to be sold with M&S’ 10-year guarantee until then.
An M&S spokesperson said: “While we have a fantastic range of home products, we want to bring even more newness and great value, stylish product to our customers’ homes.
“To do this, we will range fewer large, own-brand furniture products and expand our range of key pieces like accent chairs, side, and coffee tables; working with third party brands to complete our offer.”
M&S, which has over 1,000 stores in the UK, introduced its first furniture range in 1986 and launched its Home Furnishings catalogue in the same year.
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Meanwhile, M&S confirmed that its store in The Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill, Surrey, is set to close next month.
The final day of trading will be August 17.
Andy Nash, who manages The Belfry Shopping Centre, expressed surprise at the closure.
He said: “We are obviously sad to hear that M&S has made the decision to start the consultation to close their Redhill store, which has been much loved by our shoppers for the last 33 years.
“The Belfry has constantly evolved over the years as consumer habits have changed and it will continue to evolve with new stores opening all the time.
“Though it will be disappointing to lose M&S, the bigger picture for the Centre remains extremely positive, with more visitors using the Centre and staying longer.”
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