Latest news with #TGJones
Scottish Sun
16-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
WHSmith posts urgent warning to shoppers so they don't lose out on cash as it rebrands 500 high street stores
Read about the history of WHSmith below... SHOP TO IT WHSmith posts urgent warning to shoppers so they don't lose out on cash as it rebrands 500 high street stores Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHSMITH customers have been warned they need to spend their unused gift vouchers before they become worthless. The struggling retailer is set to disappear from the high street in a matter of weeks as its new owner rebrands it to TGJones. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 WHSmith has sold its high street shops which are being rebranded Credit: Getty The stationery giant has been a feature of the British high street since the 1800s but has fallen on hard times in recent years. Now Sun checkers can reveal bosses at the ailing favourite are already reminding punters to use their unspent gift vouchers in stores while they are still valid up until the end of June next year. Signs headed "Important Notice on Changes to WHSmith Gift Cards' erected at the firm's Croydon branch in south London state: 'This store, along with all other former high street stores, is now owned and operated by TG Jones. 'This has an impact on how you can use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card. 'You can continue to use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card in this store and in other TGJones, and on up until June 28, 2026, in accordance with the terms and conditions for your WHSmith gift card or eGift card. 'Before and after June 28, 2026, you may continue to use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card in WHSmith stores in travel locations and hospitals (excluding concessions and stores located at motorway service stations, WHSmith Local, London Underground sites or WHSmith franchise stores), in accordance with the terms and conditions for your WHSmith gift card or eGift card.' Consumer experts have urged shoppers to use their vouchers before it's too late. Martyn James, Sun Squeeze Team Member and independent consumer champion, said: 'When a company goes bust, then your vouchers, gift cards and even store credit vanish, never to be seen again. "So, when you hear that a business is in trouble, spend,spend, spend, or lose your credit. 'However, WHSmith didn't go bust, it was purchased by another business. WHSmith sells 500 UK shops "Where this happens and the business rebrands, it is usually down to the business on whether it must honour credit vouchers and gift cards. 'This often depends on whether it was a direct takeover (usually honoured) or the sale of a failing business (the new retailer doesn't take on liability). 'In this case, WHSmith customers have less than a year to spend their vouchers, which in fairness, is often how long they last before expiring anyway. "But, if you have vouchers, get online or in-store and spend them - or risk losing the credit forever.' WHSmith stores that have closed A total of 20 WHSmith stores shut this year ahead of the rebrand. The retailer's Bedford site is set to close on July 5. The store in the Frenchgate Centre in Doncaster closed on May 31, while the Stockton branch also shut on May 17. Branches in Halstead and Woolwich shut on April 12, and Halesowen and Diss followed on April 19. Just a week later, stores in Newport and Haverhill also pulled down the shutters. Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, added: 'Usually if a retailer you have a gift card for goes bust, you may struggle to get your money back. 'In this case, WHSmith has been bought and rebranded as TGJones and existing gift cards and vouchers can be used both online and in store up until June 28, 2026. 'Before and after this date, you can still redeem vouchers at WHSmith travel locations, including airports and hospitals. 'If the gift card or voucher was bought through a third party, check to see if the purchaser can approach them for a refund. "The purchaser has no right to a refund but the third-party company may choose to refund you as a gesture of goodwill." Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital agreed a deal to take over the chain's troubled high street arm back in March. As part of the deal, all 464 remaining high street stores are rebranding to TGJones. The sale has now officially completed and the WHSmith website has rebranded, while all stores are listed on Google as TGJones. Some shoppers have already spotted signs going up in stores reading 'Thank you for shopping at TGJones.' Modella put in planning applications to local councils to change the signage on its stores last month. History of WHSmith The rebranding means the WHSmith name will be disappearing from the high street for good. WHSmith's travel stores will still remain in airports, hospitals, railway stations and motorway service areas as these have not been taken over by Modella. The first WHSmith store was opened back in 1792 was opened by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna. It was located in Little Grosvenor Street, London and was initially a news vendor. When Henry and Anna died, the business was taken over by their youngest son William Henry Smith. He renamed the business WH Smith & Son in 1846. The business began expanding around this time and opened its first railway news stand at Euston Station in 1848. It opened its first depots two years later in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool. WH Smith & Son continued to be passed down by the family before becoming a limited company in 1928, with all shares owned by the third Viscount. The company became a public limited business in 1948, with staff and members of the public taking shares. The business expanded hugely between the 1970s and 1990s, and during this time changed its name to simply WHSmith. The last member of the Smith family left the board in 1996. Over the years, the brand has sold a variety of products including everything from vinyl records to DVDs and computer games. But it has always been best known for its wide variety of books, stationery, and sweets. In more recent years, WHSmith has struggled on the high street – although its travel sales have surged. The company confirmed in January it would sell off its high street business. Modella then snapped up WHSmith's high street stores after an auction process. Shoppers have also started receiving emails from TGJones. One confused customer wrote on social media: 'I got an email from TG Jones thinking how? Then realised its WHSmith's new name, crazy.' Another added: 'I keep getting emails from someone called TG Jones and it was apparently a company that has changed its name, it was failing to tell me what company…just had another one and it's WHSmith??? WHAT.' Other customers have expressed sadness at the loss of the iconic retailer from Britain's high streets. One wrote: 'New generation will never experience the feeling of going to WHSmith in your Year 6 summer holidays and building a pencil case from scratch and picking all your stationary for Year 7.' Another sad shopper added: 'I did my school shopping every year at WHSmith since reception, same with my sister too, this is so sad.' While a third nostalgic punter wrote: 'My parents met working at WHSmith and they've been married 30 years.' Modella were contacted for comment. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
WHSmith posts urgent warning to shoppers so they don't lose out on cash as it rebrands 500 high street stores
WHSMITH customers have been warned they need to spend their unused gift vouchers before they become worthless. The struggling retailer is set to disappear from the high street in a matter of weeks as its new owner rebrands it to TGJones. 1 The stationery giant has been a feature of the British high street since the 1800s but has fallen on hard times in recent years. Now Sun checkers can reveal bosses at the ailing favourite are already reminding punters to use their unspent gift vouchers in stores while they are still valid up until the end of June next year. Signs headed "Important Notice on Changes to WHSmith Gift Cards' erected at the firm's Croydon branch in south London state: 'This store, along with all other former high street stores, is now owned and operated by TG Jones. 'This has an impact on how you can use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card. 'You can continue to use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card in this store and in other TGJones, and on up until June 28, 2026, in accordance with the terms and conditions for your WHSmith gift card or eGift card. 'Before and after June 28, 2026, you may continue to use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card in WHSmith stores in travel locations and hospitals (excluding concessions and stores located at motorway service stations, WHSmith Local, London Underground sites or WHSmith franchise stores), in accordance with the terms and conditions for your WHSmith gift card or eGift card.' Consumer experts have urged shoppers to use their vouchers before it's too late. Martyn James, Sun Squeeze Team Member and independent consumer champion, said: 'When a company goes bust, then your vouchers, gift cards and even store credit vanish, never to be seen again. "So, when you hear that a business is in trouble, spend,spend, spend, or lose your credit. 'However, WHSmith didn't go bust, it was purchased by another business. WHSmith sells 500 UK shops "Where this happens and the business rebrands, it is usually down to the business on whether it must honour credit vouchers and gift cards. 'This often depends on whether it was a direct takeover (usually honoured) or the sale of a failing business (the new retailer doesn't take on liability). 'In this case, WHSmith customers have less than a year to spend their vouchers, which in fairness, is often how long they last before expiring anyway. "But, if you have vouchers, get online or in-store and spend them - or risk losing the credit forever.' WHSmith stores that have closed A total of 20 WHSmith stores shut this year ahead of the rebrand. The retailer's Bedford site is set to close on July 5. The store in the Frenchgate Centre in Doncaster closed on May 31, while the Stockton branch also shut on May 17. Branches in Halstead and Woolwich shut on April 12, and Halesowen and Diss followed on April 19. Just a week later, stores in Newport and Haverhill also pulled down the shutters. Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, added: 'Usually if a retailer you have a gift card for goes bust, you may struggle to get your money back. 'In this case, WHSmith has been bought and rebranded as TGJones and existing gift cards and vouchers can be used both online and in store up until June 28, 2026. 'Before and after this date, you can still redeem vouchers at WHSmith travel locations, including airports and hospitals. 'If the gift card or voucher was bought through a third party, check to see if the purchaser can approach them for a refund. "The purchaser has no right to a refund but the third-party company may choose to refund you as a gesture of goodwill." Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital agreed a deal to take over the chain's troubled high street arm back in March. As part of the deal, all 464 remaining high street stores are rebranding to TGJones. The sale has now officially completed and the WHSmith website has rebranded, while all stores are listed on Google as TGJones. Some shoppers have already spotted signs going up in stores reading 'Thank you for shopping at TGJones.' Modella put in planning applications to local councils to change the signage on its stores last month. History of WHSmith The rebranding means the WHSmith name will be disappearing from the high street for good. WHSmith's travel stores will still remain in airports, hospitals, railway stations and motorway service areas as these have not been taken over by Modella. The first WHSmith store was opened back in 1792 was opened by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna. It was located in Little Grosvenor Street, London and was initially a news vendor. When Henry and Anna died, the business was taken over by their youngest son William Henry Smith. He renamed the business WH Smith & Son in 1846. The business began expanding around this time and opened its first railway news stand at Euston Station in 1848. It opened its first depots two years later in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool. WH Smith & Son continued to be passed down by the family before becoming a limited company in 1928, with all shares owned by the third Viscount. The company became a public limited business in 1948, with staff and members of the public taking shares. The business expanded hugely between the 1970s and 1990s, and during this time changed its name to simply WHSmith. The last member of the Smith family left the board in 1996. Over the years, the brand has sold a variety of products including everything from vinyl records to DVDs and computer games. But it has always been best known for its wide variety of books, stationery, and sweets. In more recent years, WHSmith has struggled on the high street – although its travel sales have surged. The company confirmed in January it would sell off its high street business. Modella then snapped up WHSmith's high street stores after an auction process. Shoppers have also started receiving emails from TGJones. One confused customer wrote on social media: 'I got an email from TG Jones thinking how? Then realised its WHSmith's new name, crazy.' Another added: 'I keep getting emails from someone called TG Jones and it was apparently a company that has changed its name, it was failing to tell me what company…just had another one and it's WHSmith??? WHAT.' Other customers have expressed sadness at the loss of the iconic retailer from Britain's high streets. One wrote: 'New generation will never experience the feeling of going to WHSmith in your Year 6 summer holidays and building a pencil case from scratch and picking all your stationary for Year 7.' Another sad shopper added: 'I did my school shopping every year at WHSmith since reception, same with my sister too, this is so sad.' While a third nostalgic punter wrote: 'My parents met working at WHSmith and they've been married 30 years.'
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
WH Smith's high street rebrand begins and its new name has people asking questions
The new private equity owners of WH Smith's high street stores have already started their rebranding efforts, to the dismay of some shoppers. Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital snapped up WH Smith high street shops last month, for less than the £76million initially agreed. Following the deal, the name WH Smith is disappearing from the high street, marking the end of an era for a business that began in 1792. Modella is erasing WH Smith and replacing it with TGJones branded stores and products. While the sale only applied to its high street presence and excluded the group's travel business, the TGJones rebrand has already hit the WH Smith website. The website now redirects to and WH Smith can now be found online at Shoppers pondering whether TGJones is a real person, perhaps with solid connections to news, books or stationery, will be disappointed. The private equity firm previously said TGJones 'carries the same sense of family and reflects these stores being at the heart of everyone's high street', but does not refer to a 'specific person'. By contrast, WH Smith gets its name from founder Henry Walton Smith, who was a news vendor in London in the eighteenth century alongside his wife Anna. While it is still early days for the TGJones rebranding, some shoppers are unimpressed by the changes. One poster on X, formerly Twitter, said: 'I'll never buy anything from TG Jones'. Another X poster shopping in Newbury, said: 'Planning has gone in for the new TGJones sign in Newbury, if that's what the actual logo looks like that awful! Reminds me of the awful WHS rebrand they tried.' Whilst the reasoning behind changing well known brand name of WH Smith to TG Jones may make sense at board level, it feels reminiscent to us of WPP replacing great agency names with VML. — Stan/Lee (@StanLeeTweets) July 2, 2025 A similarly unimpressed poster on X, said: 'Whilst the reasoning behind changing well known brand name of WH Smith to TGJones may make sense at board level, it feels reminiscent to us of WPP replacing great agency names with VML.' While displaying a video with the caption 'This is sick', a further poster on X said of the name change: 'The name "TGJones" is not an individual's name, but a fabricated name meant to evoke a sense of familiarity and a family-oriented business, similar to the original.' Some shoppers incorrectly speculated that the rebranded name referred to Thomas George 'TG' Jones, who played football for Everton and Wales in the 1930s and 1940s, and died in 2004. Modella has maintained WH Smith's signature blue and white theme on high street shop-fronts. 'Clearly the plan in the first instance is to emphasise continuity, but, there is an argument where maybe it would have worked better for the brand to look completely different', retail consultant Graham Soult told Retail Gazette. Modella has said it will keep the Post Office outlets that operate in many branches. WH Smith is the latest in a string of once-ubiquitous names to disappear from high streets, including BHS, Debenhams, Littlewoods, Topshop and Woolworths, and many rebrandings have a patchy history of working out. Ill-fated brand name changes include the Post Office's attempt to name itself Consignia and finance firm Aberdeen's decision to rename itself Abrdn. Aberdeen has since reversed this decision. What do we know about Modella Capital? London-based private equity firm Modella has links to private equity house R Capital and is chaired by Steve Curtis, who has 40 years of retail sector experience and is connected to the rescue efforts and subsequent sales of Ted Baker, Paperchase and Jigsaw. Modella has taken over 480 WH Smith shops in retail parks, shopping centres and on high streets, including 5,000 staff. However, the deal did not include WH Smith's travel locations, such as shops in airports and train stations, which will stay as WH Smith. The deal also did not include the sale of the WH Smith brand. Modella prefers to stay low key, but is evidently on an acquisitional spree. The WH Smith deal marked its largest acquisition to date and its fourth retail acquisition in eight months. The private equity firm acquired 120-strong out-of-town operator Hobbycraft in August 2024, before acquiring the 180-store value operator The Original Factory Shop in February this year. Having secured WH Smith high street shops, they have reportedly turning their attention to the kitchenware chain Lakeland as their next takeover target.
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Huge high street chain to shut UK store TODAY after announcing 20 shop closures after sale
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HUGE high street retailer is set to shut one of its locations for good today. The store will shut up shop as the company rebrands its sites across the country. 2 The retailer will rebrand under new ownership Credit: Google Maps 2 WHSmith has been a high street staple for more than 200 years WHSmith has shut 20 stores this year already with its location on Midland Road, Bedford, set to follow suit today, July 5. It comes after the firm was bought out by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital in March. The firm has not yet confirmed how many jobs will be affected by the closure. As part of the takeover deal all 464 WHSmith stores are rebranding to TGJones. WHSmith has been a staple of the British high street for some 200 years but came on hard times in recent years. The Modella Capital takeover has now been completed with the WHSmith website rebranded. There are over 1,100 WHSmith stores in the UK which will be either closed down or rebranded under the new ownership. Plans to open more than 100 new stores in airports, railways and hospitals are underway, these stores will not rebrand and remain as WHSmith. A WHSmith spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that the WHSmith store in Bedford will be closing in July. "It is no longer sustainable to continue to trade from this location and the decision has been taken to close the store as a result of the forthcoming lease expiry. McDonald's Menu Shake-Up, WHSmith High Street Exit, and Smart Meter Heating Warning – Money News Today "We are disappointed to be losing our presence in Bedford and we would like to thank all our customers for their support and for shopping with us. "We are also extremely grateful for the commitment of our in store colleagues who we will support with this transition and redeploy to nearby stores, where possible.' Modella have now put in planning applications with a number of local councils to change the signs on WHSmith stores. WHSmith customers have also started to receive emails from TGJones, leading to some confusion. Several stores that are closing are understood to be holding closing down sales. The end of WHSmith on the high street The closures mark the beginning of the end of a 233-year stint on the high street for WHSmith. Earlier this year, it put its entire high street estate up for sale as it focuses instead on its more profitable travel arm. Its remaining 480 high street stores were snapped up by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital last month as part of a £76million deal. The move saved the jobs of roughly 5,000 employees. However, the famous WHSmith name is set to be lost to the high street as the shops will be gradually rebranded to TGJones. WHSmith stores will remain in airports, train stations and hospitals, and the retailer is planning to expand here. The brand opened its first shop in 1792 in Little Grosvenor Street, London, later becoming the UK's main newspaper distributor.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Huge high street chain to shut UK store TODAY after announcing 20 shop closures after sale
A HUGE high street retailer is set to shut one of its locations for good today. The store will shut up shop as the company rebrands its sites across the country. 2 2 WHSmith has shut 20 stores this year already with its location on Midland Road, Bedford, set to follow suit today, July 5. It comes after the firm was bought out by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital in March. The firm has not yet confirmed how many jobs will be affected by the closure. As part of the takeover deal all 464 WHSmith stores are rebranding to TGJones. WHSmith has been a staple of the British high street for some 200 years but came on hard times in recent years. The Modella Capital takeover has now been completed with the WHSmith website rebranded. There are over 1,100 WHSmith stores in the UK which will be either closed down or rebranded under the new ownership. Plans to open more than 100 new stores in airports, railways and hospitals are underway, these stores will not rebrand and remain as WHSmith. A WHSmith spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that the WHSmith store in Bedford will be closing in July. "It is no longer sustainable to continue to trade from this location and the decision has been taken to close the store as a result of the forthcoming lease expiry. McDonald's Menu Shake-Up, WHSmith High Street Exit, and Smart Meter Heating Warning – Money News Today "We are disappointed to be losing our presence in Bedford and we would like to thank all our customers for their support and for shopping with us. "We are also extremely grateful for the commitment of our in store colleagues who we will support with this transition and redeploy to nearby stores, where possible.' Modella have now put in planning applications with a number of local councils to change the signs on WHSmith stores. WHSmith customers have also started to receive emails from TGJones, leading to some confusion. Several stores that are closing are understood to be holding closing down sales. The end of WHSmith on the high street The closures mark the beginning of the end of a 233-year stint on the high street for WHSmith. Earlier this year, it put its entire high street estate up for sale as it focuses instead on its more profitable travel arm. Its remaining 480 high street stores were snapped up by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital last month as part of a £76million deal. The move saved the jobs of roughly 5,000 employees. However, the famous WHSmith name is set to be lost to the high street as the shops will be gradually rebranded to TGJones. WHSmith stores will remain in airports, train stations and hospitals, and the retailer is planning to expand here. The brand opened its first shop in 1792 in Little Grosvenor Street, London, later becoming the UK's main newspaper distributor. WHSmith stores that have closed A total of 20 WHSmith stores shut this year ahead of the rebrand. The retailer's Bedford site is set to close on July 5. The store in the Frenchgate Centre in Doncaster closed on May 31, while the Stockton branch also shut on May 17. Branches in Halstead and Woolwich shut on April 12, and Halesowen and Diss followed on April 19. Just a week later, stores in Newport and Haverhill also pulled down the shutters. Here's the full list of closures this year: The full list of store closures include: Bournemouth Old Christchurch Road, Dorset - January 18 Luton, Bedfordshire - January 18 March, Cambridgeshire - January 25 Basingstoke, Hampshire - February 1 Long Eaton - February 1 Newtown, Powys - February 15 Winton branch in Bournemouth, Dorset - February 15 Rhyl, Denbighshire - February 15 Bolton, Greater Manchester - February Accrington, Lancashire - March 15 Halstead, Essex - April Halesowen, West Midlands - April Diss, Norfolk - April Newport, Wales - April Haverhill, Suffolk - April 26 Woolwich - April Stockton, County Durham - May Oldham, Greater Manchester - May West Mall, Frenchgate Centre Doncaster - May 31 Orpington, Greater London
