Well, this is it.
After months of speculation and that weird limbo feeling we've all had watching empty storefronts multiply like weeds, WHSmith is officially pulling the plug on high street retail. The sale of 480 stores to Modella Capital (yeah, the Hobbycraft people) is supposedly wrapping up by the end of June. My mate who works in retail finance texted me yesterday: "It's actually happening. End of an era or whatever."
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The $64,000 Question Nobody's Really Asking
Here's what gets me though - everyone's acting surprised about this, but honestly? We saw this coming from miles away. I remember back in 2019, walking through my local WHSmith and thinking the whole place felt like a museum exhibit. Overpriced notebooks, dusty magazines, and that weird smell that every WHSmith seemed to have. You know the one.
The March deal announcement felt more like a mercy killing than a business transaction. Modella Capital swooped in, and now we're getting... TGJones? Seriously, that's the name they went with? Sounds like a discount furniture warehouse, not a place you'd pop in for a birthday card and some overpriced chocolate.
What Actually Happens to 480 Stores?
The logistics here are mental when you think about it. We're talking about nearly 500 locations that need complete rebranding, staff retraining (assuming they keep the staff - big assumption), and inventory overhauls. I spoke to someone who went through a similar transition at Woolworths back in the day. His response: "Absolute chaos. Good luck to anyone working there right now."
But here's the thing that's bugging me - WHSmith isn't completely disappearing. They're keeping their airport and train station locations. So you'll still get that joy of paying £8 for a bottle of water at Heathrow, but your neighborhood WHSmith? Gone.
The High Street Death March Continues
Look, I'm not gonna pretend I'm devastated about losing WHSmith specifically. When's the last time any of us actually needed to buy a greeting card in person? But it's another nail in the coffin of the British high street, and that part does sting a bit.
My mum keeps saying "I remember when the high street was buzzing" and honestly, I'm starting to get it. First Woolworths, then Blockbuster, now WHSmith. What's next - Boots? (Don't even joke about that, universe.)
The whole TGJones rebrand feels like putting lipstick on a pig, if I'm being brutally honest. Same struggling retail model, different name. But hey, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they've got some revolutionary approach that'll save physical retail.
Probably not though.
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Did you miss our previous article...
https://hellofaread.com/money/bm-just-made-a-move-thatll-hit-your-wallet-and-theyre-not-even-sorry-about-it
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