High Street chain collapse sweepstake

Please Respond
Zimba
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue 13 Oct, 2020 11.01

I know there's a cost to rebrand but I'm surprised they didn't just sell off the WHSmith name with it.

It's not like anyone goes into a train station and thinks, ooo there's a WHSmith I'm going in there - it's more I need something, ugh I'll have to go to WHSmith.

Least now when the High Street stores tank, their reputation doesn't go with it. Arguably the travel shops would do better if you they got shot of most of the WHSmith related junk out of them anyway.
Top
JAS84
Posts: 604
Joined: Fri 12 Aug, 2011 10.23
Location: Hull, UK

I'm sure people use those to buy a newspaper to read during a train journey or flight. They're definitely overpriced on everything other than newspapers and magazines though. But of course they have you by the short and curlies. You don't have time to go elsewhere when you're at the train station or airport waiting to travel!
Top
Martin Phillp
Posts: 1536
Joined: Wed 11 May, 2011 01.28

Blewatter wrote: Fri 28 Mar, 2025 21.16 I think its the right thing for WHSmith to divest themselves of those shops. At the end of the day, WHSmith as a shop was in need of an evolution. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it needs a clear direction. At the moment, WHSmith is a mess. Its trying to do so much- its a newsagents, its a stationary shop, its a post office, a toy store, it sells overpriced snacks. I hope the new owners of TG Jones give it a clearer direction
Customer service in my local WHSmith isn't high up on the evolutionary scale, although a couple of years back, they finally got rid of the ripped carpet.

As you say, those high street stores need a desperate refocus instead of being an odds and sods store. My local Smiths even sells vapes!
TVF's London Lite.
Top
User avatar
WillPS
Posts: 2555
Joined: Tue 22 Apr, 2008 18.32
Location: Carlton
Contact:
Contact WillPS

Zimba wrote: Fri 28 Mar, 2025 22.49 I know there's a cost to rebrand but I'm surprised they didn't just sell off the WHSmith name with it.

It's not like anyone goes into a train station and thinks, ooo there's a WHSmith I'm going in there - it's more I need something, ugh I'll have to go to WHSmith.

Least now when the High Street stores tank, their reputation doesn't go with it. Arguably the travel shops would do better if you they got shot of most of the WHSmith related junk out of them anyway.
They flog it around the world. It's a pretty huge asset to let go of with a failing division.
Image
Top
Martin Phillp
Posts: 1536
Joined: Wed 11 May, 2011 01.28

Poundland are closing one of their 'Local' branded stores at Clapham Junction in May.

This may be the start of the end for Poundland's convenience store format considering the UK business is up for sale.
TVF's London Lite.
Top
User avatar
Pete
Posts: 7628
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 13.36
Location: Dundee

Martin Phillp wrote: Sat 29 Mar, 2025 22.11My local Smiths even sells vapes!
to be fair they always sold fags so its a natural evolution of that.
"He has to be larger than bacon"
Top
Martin Phillp
Posts: 1536
Joined: Wed 11 May, 2011 01.28

Pete wrote: Mon 21 Apr, 2025 13.00
Martin Phillp wrote: Sat 29 Mar, 2025 22.11My local Smiths even sells vapes!
to be fair they always sold fags so its a natural evolution of that.
It wasn't always the case locally that my store sold cigarettes. It was purely a news, mags, books, stationary and music store until the 2000s when they started selling sweets and drinks by the till.

While the cigarettes are behind a covered shelf unit by law, the vapes are on a display case for everyone to see.
TVF's London Lite.
Top
james2001
Posts: 781
Joined: Sat 04 Jun, 2005 23.10

That won't be the case for much longer, once the tobacco and vapes bill passes they'll have to be hidden too.
Top
Please Respond

Return to “The Lounge”