WH Smith made headlines late last year for having the most unpopular rebrand since Elon’s Twitter (sorry, X) but the backlash from that trialled logo change has not stopped the stationary giant from expanding. Smiths is on track to reach its goal of opening 110 new branches this financial year.
The company has primarily expanded into train stations, airports and hospitals this year, so you can buy a 50 percent off copy of Prince Harry’s Spare no matter the circumstances. This expansion has put the company in good stead, says managing director Carl Cowling: ‘The group is trading well and is in its strongest ever position as a global travel retailer. In its strongest ever position as a global travel retailer.’
It’s likely that WH Smith will continue to expand its empire, and the general populace will continue to wonder how a shop where a pack of Mini Eggs costs a fiver is still thriving in 2024.
Curious about the state of the UK high street?
We’ve been keeping track of every single high-street store shutting up shop in 2024, as well as reporting when new ones open, like the 110 brand new Asda stores landing this year, the ten new Wagamamas, or the fact that Woolworths could see a return to Britain. Make sure to check back regularly for Time Out’s latest readings of the high street’s vital signs.
Did you see that Primark is opening five new stores across the UK?
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