Dunelm said the move focused on “harnessing our operational capabilities”, with the new till systems set to feature in more than half of its UK store estate by the end of 2026
A major high street retailer is set to roll out over self-service checkouts in over 100 UK stores. Furniture store Dunelm announced the plan in a recent financial update to shareholders.
Dunelm – which has over 200 stores in the UK – said the move focused on “harnessing our operational capabilities”, with the new till systems set to feature in more than half of its store estate by the end of 2026.
The furniture retailer has trialled self-service checkouts in several of its high-street stores over the last month and has received positive feedback. It also noted that it was not getting rid of its regular manned tills, and this option would still be available in stores for those who prefer it.
A Dunelm spokesperson said: “We have been trialling assisted self-service tills in a number of our stores over the past year, receiving some very good feedback from customers who have welcomed the ease, speed and convenience of this option.
“As a result, we will be rolling out to more stores in our estate in the future. We continue to offer regular tills across all our stores should customers prefer this option.”
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Dunelm’s Taunton store was one of the first to introduce self-service tills. According to a report from the Somerset County Gazette, the site in Priory Retail Park used to have eight manned tills, but now it only has two tills with employees on them and five self-service machines. One staff member also helps those on the self-service tills.
According to the report, you can’t get an E-receipt on the till just yet, although this is likely to change.
A spokesperson for Dunelm told the Somerset County Gazette: “With the technology well developed, and labour costs rising, this programme will pay back in less than three years and delivers a solution we know appeals to many customers.
“We have a good track record of delivering efficiencies to offset cost increases, and will continue to do so through both operational improvements and targeted longer-term productivity opportunities.”
However, these received mixed reviews from local shoppers. One person shared online: “I will not be using them! I very much disagree with upper management’s underhand way of getting rid of staff so they get more money in their salary and they very rarely work properly anyway.” Another person added: “More jobs gone.”
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