WH Smith Buxton part of national take over and re-brand
The WH Smith store on Spring Gardens in Buxton is one of 480 high street branches set to be sold in a landmark £76 million deal that will see the iconic brand disappear from UK town centres after more than two centuries.
WH Smith, which has been a cornerstone of UK high streets since 1792, has agreed to sell its entire high street retail arm to Modella Capital, the investment firm behind Hobbycraft and The Original Factory Shop.
Under the terms of the sale, the WH Smith high street name will be phased out after a short transitional period and rebranded as TGJones, a new name Modella says was chosen to retain a “family” feel reminiscent of the historic WH Smith identity.
The Buxton branch, located on Spring Gardens, recently added a Toys R Us concession in February, aiming to boost footfall with nostalgic family appeal.
WH Smiths has been a staple of UK High Streets since it was established in 1792 when it became the country’s principal newspaper distributor. It still sells papers and magazines, alongside books, sweets and snacks and art supplies. Its very first store was opened in Little Grosvenor Street, London by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna.
Alongside the sale of its high street business, WH Smith has also revealed it is exploring “strategic options,” including a possible sale of its online greetings card business, Funky Pigeon.
Travel stores continue to grow
The brand later pioneered travel retail with the opening of the first such store at London’s Euston station in 1848. The travel side of the business, which includes nearly 1,300 stores in airports and train stations, continues to grow and will remain under WH Smith’s ownership.
When the brand celebrated its 230 anniversary in 2022, they finished the year in their strongest ever position as a global travel retailer, with a further 150 travel stores added to their portfolio and due to open across the globe. They travel retail side of the business began in 1997 and in 2007 they quickly established themselves in motorway service stations.
Historic retailer
WHSmith took the UK’s first secure online order on 27th April 1995. This is recognised as the start of online shopping in the UK by the IMRG.
In 1999 they launch their website.
In 1973 the iconic orange and brown branding was launched.
In 1966 WH Smith established the ISBN book identifier.
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