Primark launches clothing repair for £3: how the new service works.

Innovations at Primark

According to The Sun: Primark is introducing interesting innovations in its stores as part of a new experiment.

The fashion chain has teamed up with The Seam, a company specializing in clothing repair, to offer same-day repair and alteration services at its store on Market Street in Manchester.

To use the service, shoppers need to book through the Eventbrite platform. However, Primark notes that visitors without appointments can still come in if there are free slots available.

During the appointment, customers will meet the seamstress from The Seam, discuss the item's repair, and leave it for 20-30 minutes for processing.

The completed item can be picked up on the same day.

Prices for the services start at £3 and go up to a maximum of £10 for simple repairs, while Primark partially subsidizes these costs.

The service will be available on the ground floor of the store every Friday from September 26 to December 19.

This move highlights Primark's commitment to sustainability in fashion.

The company has previously held 'Love It For Longer' workshops and online classes aimed at improving clothing repair skills at home.

“We want to make simple repairs and alterations more accessible and affordable for our customers,” said Vicky Swain, Primark's head of product sustainability.

“We are eager to see the response to our store on Market Street in Manchester and hope it becomes an important part of the shopping street,” she added.

Other changes at Primark

Unfortunately, not all news from Primark is positive.

The company has confirmed the closure of its first store in the last decade.

Primark will close its branch at the Orchards shopping center in Dartford next year, with the exact date yet to be confirmed.

The reason for the closure is “significant” repairs needed in the building.

53 employees at this branch may be left without jobs, and Primark has announced it will start consultations regarding the closure.

The chain has over 190 stores in the UK and employs more than 30,000 people.

In the meantime, Primark has opened its first home goods store in the UK.

The store in Manchester, Trafford Palazzo, offers household items including cotton bedding, towels, soft furnishings, tableware, and furniture that requires assembly.

Additionally, Primark shoppers are expecting the launch of an app, which will arrive in the UK in the next 18 months.

Primark has already launched the app in Italy and Ireland, allowing shoppers to browse products, check store availability, and save items for later purchase.

Moreover, Primark recently launched a 'click and collect' service that allows shoppers to order items online and pick them up in-store. Currently, the service is available in 187 stores across the UK.

Challenges in retail in 2025

The British Retail Consortium predicts that an increase in National Insurance contributions for employers will cost the retail sector £2.3 billion.

The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) warns that around 17,350 retail stores may close this year.

This follows a tough 2024, during which 13,000 stores closed permanently, which is 28% more than the previous year.

“The results for 2024 show that while store closures overall were not as bad as in 2020 or 2022, it is still concerning as worse times are ahead in 2025,” said Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR.

“By raising both store operating costs and household expenses, we are highly likely to witness learning lessons from the entire sector that surpassed the pandemic figures of 2020,” added Professor Bamfield.

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The introduction of new clothing repair services at Primark demonstrates the company's commitment to a more sustainable approach to fashion. While the closure of the store in Dartford and the overall retail situation raises concerns, Primark continues to adapt to changes and new challenges in the marketplace.