The British retail brand WHSmith is set to disappear from the British high street. Fer House
The British retail brand WHSmith is set to disappear from the British high street, which involves various aspects such as its brand history, strategic adjustments, challenges during the sale process, long - term impacts, and brand prospects.
1. Brand History and Strategic Adjustment: WHSmith was founded in 1792 and has been operating retail businesses selling books, stationery, newspapers, magazines, and other consumer goods on the British high street for over 230 years. It is a classic brand in the British retail industry. However, due to the rise of online shopping, fierce competition from supermarkets, and changes in consumers' shopping habits, its high - street business has declined. In the fiscal year ending in August 2023, the high - street business revenue was 452 million pounds, with a profit of only 32 million pounds. In contrast, the travel retail business performed strongly, accounting for 85% of the group's profits. Therefore, the company plans to sell 500 high - street stores and abandon the brand name, shifting its strategic focus to the travel retail business.
2. Challenges during the Sale Process: This sale is not only a business divestiture but also involves the discontinuation of the brand name, severing the 230 - year - long connection between the brand and the British high street. Although the company is exploring strategic options for its high - street business and may sell the stores, the transaction has not been finalized. Potential buyers include investment firms that acquire distressed retailers, but the stores with Post Office partnerships add complexity to the deal.
3. Long - Term Impacts and Brand Prospects: The WHSmith brand is deeply rooted in people's hearts and is part of the British high - street culture. Analysts question the long - term impact of this change. Retail consultant Richard Hyman believes that losing this brand will pose challenges to the new owner. The company has not completely ruled out the possibility of licensing the brand to the new owner, but currently, the possibility is small, which means the end of WHSmith's history on the high street. This strategic transformation reflects the changes in the retail industry. Although the disappearance of the brand is sad, it is also a symbol of the changing times and the emergence of new business models, which will impact consumers who are used to seeing its stores.
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