LOFT is currently hosting a massive ‘relocation sale’ with up to 70% off as its Northern Quarter pop-up prepares to shut its doors.
The Manchester-based furniture and homeware brand – which was founded with humble beginnings by Benjamin Hall back in 2003, and soon became the place to go to furnish interiors as the city started to blossom with brand-new flats, apartment blocks, offices, and student accommodation in the early noughties – opened its pop-up store in the heart of the Northern Quarter at the start of 2020.
The LOFT Shop was opened to build on the company’s success after making a huge impact on the Build to Rent (BTR) and Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) markets.
With new lines arriving every week, the pop-up was designed with the community in mind and aims to provide local people with high-end furnishings at affordable prices, by filling the space with ex-display pieces, end-of-line furniture ranges, and surplus project stock.
LOFT also prided itself on reaching out to small, independent Manchester-based artisans to give them free pop-up space at weekends in store and help them have a high street presence.
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And it’s safe to say that it’s been a huge success ever since opening.
LOFT is currently hosting a massive ‘relocation sale’ with up to 70% off / Credit: LOFTLOFT opened its pop-up shop in the heart of the Northern Quarter at the start of 2020, and it’s been a huge success ever since / Credit: LOFT
Sadly though, all good things must come to an end, and in-line with LOFT’s digital strategy for the future, the company has announced that the pop-up will be leaving the high street on Friday 29 October and moving online-only instead.
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But it’s not leaving without giving the community the chance to grab themselves some unmissable offers first.
How does up to 70% off on furniture and home accessories sound?
Throughout its time on the high street, The LOFT Shop has had a range of different deals available almost every day of the week, but the ‘Relocation Sale’ has by far some of the biggest offers yet, so if you’ve got a space that needs furnishing, have some grand refurbishment plans, or you’re just looking for new accessories to make your house a home, then there couldn’t be a better time to get high-end pieces on a budget.
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This may be your last weekend to make the most of everything on offer before the pop-up officially bids farewell next Friday, but The LOFT Shop is open seven days a week, so there’s still plenty of time to pop down and clinch a bargain this week.
All offers will be available until Sunday 31 October, and you can find more information ahead of your visit to The LOFT Shop here.
And don’t forget, LOFT will still be online after the pop-up closes – shop.loft.co.uk
Featured Image – LOFT
Shopping
Bershka is finally opening in Manchester, alongside supersized Zara
Daisy Jackson
Bershka is finally heading to Manchester for the first time, as its parent company signs a major flagship deal with the Trafford Centre.
The new deal with Inditex also means a new, supersized Zara store in a new location within the popular shopping centre.
And it’s upsizing its current Pull & Bear shop into a new site too.
The Trafford Centre has announced that Bershka will be opening there for the first time this summer.
The Spanish fast fashion brand is famed for its affordable, trend-led fashions.
All three new stores will be occupying their own flagship spaces on Peel Avenue, promising a ‘better shopping experience’ with larger stores.
Bershka is finally opening in Manchester, alongside supersized Zara
Simon Layton, centre director at Trafford Centre, said: “This exciting new deal with Inditex demonstrates that Trafford Centre is going from strength to strength, and highlights our wider commitment to improving the customer experience for our guests.
“The addition of Bershka to complement the already hugely popular Zara and Pull&Bear means our guests can enjoy an unrivalled fashion experience on their visit to Trafford Centre.”
Bershka, as well as the new larger Zara and Pull & Bear stores, will open at the Trafford Centre in Manchester in late summer 2025.
Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ in stores for autistic and neurodiverse customers
Emily Sergeant
Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ for autistic and neurodiverse customers shopping in its stores across the UK.
Supermarket shopping isn’t always the most pleasant or manageable of experiences for everyone, especially for those who are autistic or neurodivergent – with bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells, and crowds of people making it a rather overwhelming and overstimulating atmosphere.
This is why Morrisons has decided to collaborate with the National Autistic Society to introduce dedicated ‘Sensory Support Boxes’ at its stores nationwide, as a way to both mark World Autism Acceptance Month, and help autistic and neurodivergent customers have the positive shopping experience they deserve.
These boxes have been carefully-developed in consultation with the National Autistic Society to ensure they include the most helpful items.
A range of toys like fidget balls, spinners, and squish mats can all be found inside the boxes – which will be eventually be available in all 500 Morrisons supermarkets by May – to help encourage calmness and focus.
All that customers wishing to access the items need to do is simply speak to a colleague at the customer service kiosk of their local Morrisons store.
More than one in 100 people are autistic, and there are 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ in stores for autistic and neurodiverse customers / Credit: Morrisons
Speaking on the decision to introduce the Sensory Support Boxes into UK stores, Joseph Clark-Bland, who is the Community Manager at Morrisons, said: “It’s a priority for us to ensure all Morrisons customers feel welcomed and understood.
“We’re proud to be leading the way in creating a more inclusive shopping environment for autistic people, their families and all neurodivergent people across the UK.
“World Autism Acceptance Month has been a key moment for Morrisons for many years, and we look forward to supporting even more customers via our new Sensory Boxes.”
The introduction of the Sensory Support Boxes comes after Morrisons first trialled a ‘Quieter Hour’ in some of its stores back in 2018, before rolling it out nationwide in 2024 due to its success and positive feedback.
Emily Sergeant -
21st October 2021 
