Latest news with #WHSMITH
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- 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
Scottish Sun
30-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
WH Smith slashes high street sale price by £12m in last-minute deal with Hobbycraft owner
Existing WH Smith stores will be rebranded with a different name WH SMITH SALE WOE WH Smith slashes high street sale price by £12m in last-minute deal with Hobbycraft owner Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WH SMITH has been forced to slash the price of its high street arm by a fifth in a last-minute renegotiation. The purchase by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital was completed yesterday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up But WH Smith now expects gross proceeds of only up to £40million, £12million down from the £52million it first forecast. WH Smith said: 'Following the agreement and announcement of the sale, the future of the high street business under a change of ownership has led to a more cautious outlook amongst stakeholders.' It agreed to renegotiate on the price 'given the original agreement was no longer deliverable'. The sale, signed in March, had valued the high street stores at £76million. Shares in WHSmith, now focused on travel site stores in airports and train stations in the UK and globally, closed 3 per cent lower. Modella will take over all 480 high street stores and rebrand them as TGJones. 2 WH Smith has been forced to slash the price of its high street arm by a fifth in a last-minute renegotiations Credit: Alamy Energy drop MILLIONS of household energy bills have been cut by 7 per cent after regulator Ofgem slashed its price cap today. Annual bills have dropped from £1,849 to £1,720, saving £129 a year for 22 million households on standard variable tariffs. Electricity now costs 25.73p per kWh and gas 6.33p per kWh. Uswitch urged families to lock in fixed rates now, with deals up to £145 cheaper than the July cap. Santander in TSB push SANTANDER has made a bid for TSB, which values the British retail bank at more than £2.3billion. TSB — which has £46billion in assets and £35billion in deposits — is currently owned by another Spanish lender, Sabadell, whose board could meet as early as today to decide whether to accept. 2 Santander has made a bid for TSB Credit: Reuters Barclays is also said to be in the running to buy TSB, though it has not commented. The proposed sale comes as Sabadell looks to fend off a takeover attempt by rival BBVA. Analysts believe selling TSB could be a defensive move. Barclays sent me 3,000 IDENTICAL letters in 3 days - I couldn't open door
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
High street chain with over 1,100 stores in UK shuts ‘ghost town' branch forever as shoppers lament ‘sad sight'
Local shoppers were left gutted by the move SHUTTERS DOWN High street chain with over 1,100 stores in UK shuts 'ghost town' branch forever as shoppers lament 'sad sight' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHSMITH has closed another store today as part of their steady departure from the UK high street. The shop in Stockton, Country Durham, was closed at 12 noon today for the last time. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The high street giant has been in business for 233 years Credit: PA 3 A string of WHSmith locations are set to close in the coming months Credit: Getty Locals said a sad goodbye to WHSmith in Wellington Square shopping complex today. It comes after a string of recent closures has seen the popular British shop close several stores across the country in recent months. Many were left gutted by the closure which will force them to travel or shop online for books, gifts and stationary. They reacted to the news of the Stockton closure on social media with an outpouring of sadness. Joff Dixon said: "Council are making the town centre a ghost town and that's why piss heads and drug addicts are taking over. "I used to be proud to go to town and now won't go or even take my kids and rather go to Billingham." Chris Archer added: "What a joke this town is now." And Stephen Andrew Whenary commented: "Not much to go down town for now only rats left." WHSmith was bought up by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital earlier this year in an eye-watering £76 million deal. Several of the retailers locations have closed in recent months with more set to follow after the deal was finalised. The move will result in WHSmith stores vanishing completely from UK high streets. Stores in airports, train stations and hospitals will stay open however. More WHSmith's are set to follow as the shop winds up it's stint on the high street. Branches in Halstead and Woolwich shut on April 12, and stores in Halesowen and Diss will follow on April 19. Only a week later, shops in Newport and Haverhill will also pull down their shutters for the final time. 3 Stores in airports, train stations and hospitals will remain open Credit: Reuters Which WHSmith stores have closed? At least ten WHSmith locations have already vanished from high streets this year, including: Bournemouth (Old Christchurch Road), Dorset Luton, Bedfordshire March, Cambridgeshire Basingstoke, Hampshire Long Eaton Newtown, Powys Winton (Bournemouth), Dorset Rhyl, Denbighshire Bolton, Greater Manchester Accrington, Lancashire The retailer, which first opened in 1792, has faced growing pressure from rising costs, online rivals and changing shopper habits. 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 and chose to focus on its more profitable travel arm. Its remaining 480 high street stores were snapped up by Modella Capital, and 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. The brand opened its first shop in 1792 in Little Grosvenor Street, London, later becoming the UK's main newspaper distributor.
