Five simple home updates under £30 that can instantly refresh your space

Home Updates

News & Blogs Five simple home updates under £30 that can instantly refresh your space Share it! Facebook X-twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text Refreshing your home does not always mean buying something new. In many cases, the most effective updates are small, practical changes that improve how existing items look and function. According to Neluka Dunning, owner of The Zip Yard, some of the simplest alterations can transform a space for less than £30. “People are starting to realise they do not need to replace things to refresh their homes,” she says. “A small, well-done repair or update can make a big visual difference.”   Making more of what you already have Across The Zip Yard’s network, demand for homeware repairs has grown alongside clothing alterations. Last year alone, over 417,000 items were worked on, including nearly 188,000 repairs, with more customers bringing in household items to be refreshed rather than […]

Read More… from Five simple home updates under £30 that can instantly refresh your space

Stop replacing, start refreshing: simple home fixes that make a big difference

Stop replacing, start refreshing

News & Blogs Stop replacing, start refreshing: simple home fixes that make a big difference Share it! Facebook X-twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text When something in the home starts to look tired, the instinct is often to replace it. But according to Neluka Dunning, owner of The Zip Yard, many everyday items can be refreshed quickly and affordably with simple repairs or alterations. From curtains that no longer sit right to cushions that have lost their shape, small details can have a big impact on how a space feels. “We see it all the time,” says Neluka. “People come in ready to replace something, but actually it just needs a small adjustment. Once it’s fixed, it completely changes how it looks and feels.”   A growing shift towards repair Across The Zip Yard’s network of more than 50 stores, over 417,000 items were worked on last year, including more than 187,000 […]

Read More… from Stop replacing, start refreshing: simple home fixes that make a big difference

The Zip Yard Owner Neluka Dunning Named Finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the Year at UK Small Business Awards

Finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the Year

News & Blogs The Zip Yard Owner Neluka Dunning Named Finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the Year at UK Small Business Awards Share it! Facebook X-twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text We are proud to share some exciting news across The Zip Yard network. Neluka Dunning, owner of The Zip Yard UK and Ireland, has been named a Finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the Year at the UK Small Business Awards 2026. The awards celebrate the very best of UK small businesses, recognising individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation and impact. To be shortlisted is a significant achievement and reflects both Neluka’s journey and the strength of the wider Zip Yard network. From one store to a national network Neluka’s journey with The Zip Yard began in 2019 when she purchased her first franchise store in Leeds after taking a career break to raise her children. What started as a single location […]

Read More… from The Zip Yard Owner Neluka Dunning Named Finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the Year at UK Small Business Awards

Fashion Revolution Week 2026: Small wardrobe changes can make a big difference

Fashion Revolution Week

News & Blogs Fashion Revolution Week 2026: Small wardrobe changes can make a big difference Share it! Facebook X-twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text As Fashion Revolution Week (22–28 April 2026) encourages people to rethink how clothes are made and used, there is growing evidence that change is already happening closer to home. According to Neluka Dunning, owner of The Zip Yard, the UK and Ireland’s largest clothing alterations and repair network, many customers are quietly shifting their habits by making better use of what they already own. “People are more discerning than they used to be,” says Neluka. “They’re thinking not just about what they buy, but about what’s already in their wardrobe. A lot of the time, it’s not about needing something new. It’s about making what you’ve got work better.”   A shift towards more mindful wardrobes Fashion Revolution Week, which marks the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory […]

Read More… from Fashion Revolution Week 2026: Small wardrobe changes can make a big difference

Some of our recent repairs and restyles

News & Blogs Before and After – some of our recent repairs and restyles Share it! Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text Share it! Want To Read More? Check our other News articles & Blog entries for all of the most up-to-date information, stories, promotions & events – or use the slider below! News & Blogs Some of our recent repairs and restyles 31 May 2022 Read More The Zip Yard Bedford Completes 100,000th Customer Transaction 18 January 2022 Read More Fashion Influencer Nicoletta Mirachi Visits The Zip Yard 07 January 2022 Read More Simple Ideas for a more Sustainable Christmas 12 December 2021 Read More Top tips to help children with sensory issues be more comfortable in their clothes 21 October 2021 Read More The Zip Yard to Open Alterations Services in Nottingham Tesco Extra Store 08 September 2021 Read More […]

Read More… from Some of our recent repairs and restyles

The Zip Yard Bedford Completes 100,000th Customer Transaction

Sensory issues top tips

News & Blogs The Zip Yard Bedford Alterations Completes 100,000th Customer Transaction Share it! Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text The Zip Yard Bedford, which has been situated on the city’s High Street since 2013, has completed its 100,000th customer transaction.  A staple on the Bedford high street, The Zip Yard is owned and run by Graeme Mulheron, who has lived in the area for over 30 years and employs a total of 10 staff, all of whom are local to Bedford. Over the years, the store has grown in popularity, and now has over 30,000 customers. The lucky 100,000th customer was Stuart Green, who has used The Zip Yard services in the past and was delighted to have helped them reach the milestone. He was treated to a bottle of champagne and a voucher for a meal worth £100.00 to use at local Italian restaurant, Mamma Concetta.  Commenting on the […]

Read More… from The Zip Yard Bedford Completes 100,000th Customer Transaction

Fashion Influencer Nicoletta Mirachi Visits The Zip Yard

News & Blogs Fashion Influencer Nicoletta Mirachi Visits The Zip Yard Share it! Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text We welcomed fashion influencer and long-time The Zip Yard customer, Nicoletta Mirachi, to her local Zip Yard store in Chapel Allerton, Leeds so she could tell others about the reasons why she loves to restyle, tailors and repair the pieces from her sartorial wardrobe. Name: Nicoletta Mirachi Instagram handle: @nicoletta.mirachi How would you describe your style? Minimal, simple and classic.                            When did you start having your clothes tailored and altered?  Since I can remember. Why did you start having your clothes altered / tailored (what were the main reasons?)  I’ve always struggled with clothes being too big. How do you feel when you’ve had your clothes altered / tailored (more confidence, more polished) It feels very nice because I get to wear […]

Read More… from Fashion Influencer Nicoletta Mirachi Visits The Zip Yard

Simple Ideas for a more Sustainable Christmas

News & Blogs Simple Ideas for a more Sustainable Christmas Share it! Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text The Zip Yard has rounded up a few simple (but brilliant) ways to lessen your impact during the festive season (without losing any of that Christmas magic!). 1.) Forego fast fashion this party season You need to look fabulous this Christmas, especially as this might be the first proper party season you’ve had since before the pandemic started. You absolutely deserve it. But did you know that extending the life of your clothes by just nine months could reduce your carbon, water and waste footprint by around 20%-30%? Here are a few ways to minimise your fashion impact this Christmas. First up, do you really know what little party gems are hiding in your wardrobe? The average British woman hoards around £285 of clothes she doesn’t wear, so the likelihood is you’ve got […]

Read More… from Simple Ideas for a more Sustainable Christmas

Top tips to help children with sensory issues be more comfortable in their clothes

News & Blogs Top tips to help children with sensory issues be more comfortable in their clothes Share it! Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text This year’s back-to-school season has meant different things for different families – for some, it’s been a straightforward and welcome return to normality; for others, an emotional journey. For parents of children with sensory issues, the return of the morning getting-dressed routine can lead to exhausting daily battles. Many children with sensory issues struggle to feel comfortable in their clothing, from hating the ‘feel’ of trousers, itchy fabrics, seams and tags to getting frustrated and angry with buttons, zips, laces and fiddly hooks. The Zip Yard offers some advice on simple alterations that might help with clothing sensitivity… Trousers When children struggle to get their trousers up and down and to do up fastenings, jogging bottoms can be a useful alternative. If something smarter is needed, […]

Read More… from Top tips to help children with sensory issues be more comfortable in their clothes

The Zip Yard to Open Alterations Services in Nottingham Tesco Extra Store

News & Blogs The Zip Yard to Open Alterations Services in Nottingham Tesco Extra Store Share it! Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Envelope-open-text British clothing alterations business, The Zip Yard will open its first store in the Nottingham’s Toton Tesco Extra on 14th September. The opening marks a new partnership which is being trialled in Tesco Extra stores, offering shoppers access to repair, alter, upcycle or restyle clothes and home accessories so they fit better and last longer. Neluka Dunning, Owner of The Zip Yard UK Master Franchise commented, “We’re delighted to be working with Tesco to provide Zip Yard stores within the Toton Tesco Extra store. Providing The Zip Yard services to a wider audience in Nottingham will give shoppers the opportunity to bring in their garments for alterations and repair rather than throwing them away. Clothing has the fourth-largest impact on the environment after housing, transport and food and […]

Read More… from The Zip Yard to Open Alterations Services in Nottingham Tesco Extra Store