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grahame
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« on: August 28, 2019, 14:07:56 » |
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Gone are the days when every commuter bought his morning paper at the station, and almost inevitably that was from WHSmith From The ScotsmanWH Smith hospital stores overtake rail station sites
Patients and visitors are heading to WH Smith’s hospital stores in record numbers, making them more popular than the newsagent’s train station sites, the company has revealed.
Bosses said hospital stores are now the second largest division in its travel business – after airports – and are helping to keep profits in line with expectations. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Transport User Group, West Wiltshire Rail User Group Committee and TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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JayMac
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« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2019, 15:55:40 » |
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It's understandable that profits are up at WHSmith hospital sites when they sell toothpaste for £7.99 that's available in supermarkets for 99p. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-44084638Even after saying this was a pricing error the product was still priced at £2.49. A somewhat captive market means such price gouging. I don't buy the argument about overheads being significantly greater in such locations. Excepting the bribes inducements paid to NHS Trusts by chain retailers to allow them to trade on site. It's also a shame that many hospital trusts have allowed the likes of WHSmith to trade on site to the detriment of League of Friends shops. At least with the LoF shops you knew you were paying a little more than on the High St for good reason. All profits went back to helping hospital patients. |
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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grahame
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« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2019, 16:02:25 » |
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It's understandable that profits are up at WHSmith hospital sites when they sell toothpaste for £7.99 that's available in supermarkets for 99p. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-44084638Even after saying this was a pricing error the product was still priced at £2.49. ... A somewhat captive market means such price gouging. I don't buy the argument about overheads being significantly greater in such locations. Noting it the original quotation, "Bosses" at WHSmith seem to be more concerned with profit than size of customer base, or the service aspect of being in a medical facility with a captive market: Bosses said hospital stores are now the second largest division in its travel business – after airports – and are helping to keep profits in line with expectations. It took my breath when I initially posted it - nice to know I'm not the only one concerned at the slant taken by WHS these days. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Transport User Group, West Wiltshire Rail User Group Committee and TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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johnneyw
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« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2019, 16:17:40 » |
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It's also a shame that many hospital trusts have allowed the likes of WHSmith to trade on site to the detriment of League of Friends shops. At least with the LoF shops you knew you were paying a little more than on the High St for good reason. All profits went back to helping hospital patients.
The question that also needs to be asked is if WHS ultimately contributes more to the hospital funds than the the LoF shops. I know it isn't just the money that matters, although no-one would claim it to be unimportant. I'm somewhat uncomfortable with the arrangement myself but if (and I don't know the answer here) having WHS in the hospitals contributes much more to their coffers than LoF then this has to be taken notice of. Of course, if the difference is minimal, then I know who I would prefer there. |
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Celestial
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« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2019, 18:19:06 » |
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Excepting the bribes inducements paid to NHS Trusts by chain retailers to allow them to trade on site.
That wording seems to suggest something at best underhand and at worst criminal is behind WH Smith's presence in hospitals and I don't believe that is the case for one moment. I'm sure the contracts will have been let in a proper manner, and WHS are just willing to pay the most. The mistake is for the Trusts not to specify that Holby Hospital WHS must sell stuff at the same price as Holby City Centre store. I expect they would find the rent they are offered would be somewhat lower though, which is why it hasn't happened in the past (but I can imagine it could in future). Still, at least in Wales the hospital car parks are all free these days, so that's one step forward. |
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grahame
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« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2025, 10:18:47 » |
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3n3en7gppoThe name WH Smith, a staple of UK▸ town centres since the Victorian era when it became the country's principal newspaper distributor, is set to disappear from the High Street after the firm agreed to sell its shops to Hobbycraft-owner Modella Capital.
The sale does not include the WH Smith brand, its travel shops at airports and railway stations or its outlets in hospitals.
The new owner will rebrand the High Street chain as TGJones, but said it would keep the Post Office outlets that operate in many branches.
WH Smith's first shop was in Little Grosvenor Street, London. It opened its first travel retail store in London's Euston station in 1848.
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Transport User Group, West Wiltshire Rail User Group Committee and TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Mark A
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« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2025, 11:20:57 » |
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Jerome K Jerome, writing in the eighteen eighties: "From Medmenham to sweet Hambledon Lock the river is full of peaceful beauty, but, after it passes Greenlands, the rather uninteresting looking river residence of my newsagent—a quiet unassuming old gentleman, who may often be met with about these regions, during the summer months, sculling himself along in easy vigorous style, or chatting genially to some old lock-keeper, as he passes through—until well the other side of Henley, it is somewhat bare and dull."The house survives, as Henley Business School's 'Greenlands' campus. https://www.henley.ac.uk/why/campuses/greenlandsMark |
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2025, 16:02:18 » |
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Sad in a way, but it's become a bit like Woolworths, a relic from a past era, with no real effort (or perhaps opportunity) to update.
I see the branches at stations and airports remain open to sell the most expensive bottles of water on the planet!
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RailCornwall
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« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2025, 16:17:23 » |
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Alias Smith and Jones.
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Mark A
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« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2025, 19:02:18 » |
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Sad in a way, but it's become a bit like Woolworths, a relic from a past era, with no real effort (or perhaps opportunity) to update.
I see the branches at stations and airports remain open to sell the most expensive bottles of water on the planet!
Its branches at motorway service stations aren't mentioned but perhaps they'll continue too. Heading home on the M54 after dusk I once made the mistake of developing a serious headache, called in at the service station and WHS sold me a 16 pack of very ordinary insoluble aspirin for around £86:90. (I exaggerate, but not by much...). Another curious (non)transaction, day two of a return from northern scotland and after the Thelwall Viaduct, the M6 & M5 serially horked, so, headed off down the M56 intending an escape via Chester(ish) and mid-Wales**. Finding the vehicle's atlas to be woeful, called into a motorway service station for an A to Z UK▸ map or similar. "Oh I'm sorry, we don't sell paper maps any more"... followed by the famous response to someone who has literally just asked for the item in question... "...there's no call for them". Mark ** The escape was successful once Wrexham was in the rear view mirror. The entire two day journey was memorable for the number of road traffic accidents encountered, every single one at junctions onto major roads. Literally sat there and reflected that we'd passed three on the wales segment of the journey alone, all on a lovely summer's evening. I then contrasted that with the fact that in my entire life I've never encountered, face to face, a sniff of an accident involving moving rail vehicles, even on the occasion when Porthmadoc level crossing gates were being as provocative as they possibly could. |
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Surrey 455
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« Reply #10 on: March 28, 2025, 22:10:28 » |
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In my youth, WHSmith was where I used to go to buy books, records, cassette tapes, school stationery and just standing around reading their magazines. I have no need for any of that now. As MarkA mentioned they are so expensive now. To me, they have lost their relevance being undercut by other retailers. I will not mourn their demise like I did with Woolworths & Wilko.
Except they're not actually going anywhere. Just being bought out and renamed. I'm not sure what the new buyer sees in the stores. Maybe we'll find them all converted to something else in a year or two.
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johnneyw
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« Reply #11 on: March 29, 2025, 11:43:23 » |
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The house survives, as Henley Business School's 'Greenlands' campus.
Blimey, that brought back a memory from childhood as I recall my father was sent on what seemed like a fairly lengthy residential course there in the 1960s. |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2026, 17:53:30 » |
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An update, from the BBC» : Up to 150 former WHSmith high street stores to close
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Image © Getty Images
Up to 150 of the 480 High Street stores formerly part of the WHSmith business will be closed in a restructuring plan launched by the owner of the chain.
The WHSmith High Street bookshops were purchased by Modella Capital last year, and the stores were then rebranded under the name TGJones.
Hundreds of jobs are at risk through the restructure, but Modella Capital told the BBC the plan was an "essential part" of the company's turnaround plan.
A Modella Capital spokesperson said the decision had "not been taken lightly" but blamed challenging retail conditions for the need to close stores. "While we continue to believe in the strength of the core business, TGJones has experienced highly challenging trading conditions over the past year, along with many other brick-and-mortar retailers," the spokesperson said.
The private equity firm said the challenges were partly due to the "forced" name change, saying that it negatively impacted public awareness of the brand. It also blamed rising operating costs "as a direct result of government policy" and recent "geopolitical events".
"The restructuring plan is designed to protect the substantial core of the store estate and create a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to serve customers for years to come," they said.
Modella Capital's spokesperson said the firm had made no decisions yet on how the closures would affect jobs, and it is aiming to preserve "as many jobs as possible".
"We want to be clear, however, that the plan may result in the closure of some stores and the loss of some roles," they said. "We recognise the impact this uncertainty will have on colleagues, their families and the communities we serve."
WHSmith agreed the sale of its high street business in March 2025, with the aim of focusing solely on its shops in travel locations like airports and stations. The WHSmith brand was not part of the £40 million deal.
The TGJones restructure comes after another brand owned by Modella Capital ceased to operate in the UK▸ and Northern Ireland. Claire's stopped trading last month, closing all 154 standalone stores and making 1,300 staff redundant.
Modella Capital had purchased Claire's in September 2025 after the business fell into administration, but later placed the jewellery and accessories chain into administration itself after an "alarmingly" low Christmas trading period. Modella Capital also owns Hobbycraft.
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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JayMac
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« Reply #13 on: May 06, 2026, 20:49:44 » |
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Just the start.
I predict Modella Capital will either 'manage' TG▸ Jones into administration or sell it off to some other mug.
It'd be an ideal result for Taunton. The most shoddily managed TG Jones Ive had the misfortune to use. Don't dare complain to the manageress about the county town having just one Post Office counter in the town centre. I did a couple weeks ago when the queue for the Post Office was out the door. I was shouted at by her in the most deranged and unhinged way. I think she needed to release some pressure and I was the poor sap to cop it.
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #14 on: May 06, 2026, 21:33:00 » |
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Make a formal complaint? I'll bet it was recorded on their own CCTV▸ , so she'll have some explaining to do.  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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