Familiar retail name set to disappear from Lichfield shopping scene as plans for new branding are drawn up

https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2025/06/05/familiar-retail-name-set-to-disappear-from-lichfield-shopping-scene-as-plans-for-new-branding-are-drawn-up/

Former Book Retailer of the Year Disappears from High Street: Self-Publishing with ALLi featuring Dan Holloway https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-high-street/ #AI-driventranslations #Taylor&Francis #bookretail #highstreet #backlash #Podcast #WHSmith

UK gets dix points in jeux avec frontières and Starmer is nice and wears a suit. EU is nasty, nasty (and eats dogs)

The truth is the pundits have absolutely no idea on the impact of MAGA tax. You are better off asking Jeremy Clarkson for a reasoned opinion than reading the Press -They are still reeling from the shock closure of #whsmith

You are just left wondering why the 6th largest economy in the World can't get a ******ing pothole fixed

WH Smith name to disappear from High Street after sale (BBC News)

The new owner has said it will keep the Toys "R" Us concessions and the 195 Post Office counters, but will rebrand the High Street chain as TGJones

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3n3en7gppo

#business #retail #ModellaCapital #WHSmith #TGJones

Iconic #Bookstore #WHSmith Has Been Sold

https://goodereader.com/blog/business-news/iconic-bookstore-wh-smith-has-been-sold

It's the end of an era 😞

As well as the obligatory buying of Food, Drink, Stationery products & Books in there, I spent many hours as a small kid reading Comics in there, then as a Teenager reading Computer Mags & playing & buying computer games & then as an Adult reading Tech magazines. RIP WH Smith aka WH Smith's aka "I'm just going down to Smith's" 😞 #WHSmith #whsmiths #endofanera

WH Smith name to disappear from High Street after sale

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3n3en7gppo

I'm worried about #WHSmith going out of business. Where will I buy a single A4 envelope for £1.39 now?

First there was 'Alias Smith & Jones'

Then came 'Alas Smith & Jones'

What's next? 'Aka Smith & Jones'?

#Marketing #BrandingFails
#TGJones #WHSmith
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/28/what-does-wh-smith-new-high-street-name-tgjones-actually-mean-modella

“A teenager tries out the very latest technology at a #WHSmith branch in 1984” www.bbc.com/news/article...

"WH Smith name to disappear from High Street after sale"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3n3en7gppo

Where am I supposed to bug my dad to take me now to buy the new edition of the Maplin catalogue?

#WHSmith #Maplin

So it's gonna be TJ Hughes v TJ Jones #WHSmith

WH Smith name to disappear fro...

well if you want to evoke a sense of family, it helps if that family has at least existed at some point in history: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/28/what-does-wh-smith-new-high-street-name-tgjones-actually-mean-modella #WHSmith #WTFuck

Later he managed the #WHSmith shop in Broad Street, Ross, and lived upstairs with his family. I believe my grandpa was born here. Photo credit: Stevie Boy6 found via Google images

My own little bit of #WHSmith family history. In 1898 my great grandfather Cadwaladr Davies was presented with a magnificent address and purse of gold when he was promoted from his role running the WH Smith bookstall at Abergele and Pensarn station and moved to Ross on Wye.

I’ve seen some crappy rebrandings in my time, but #WHSmith’s new owners changing the high street shop names to #TGJones because it sounds like an old-fashioned family business name is utterly dismal.

So #WHSmith is aliasing itself as TGJones? Very British. Or is it more … er …

WHSmith sells high street stores – which will be renamed TGJones

Modella Capital will take over WHSmith’s 480 high street stores and 5,000 staff.

As the deal does not include the WHSmith’s name, stores will be renamed TGJones, but will keep existing Toys-r-us and Post Office concessions.

Modella said it would be “business as usual” while it worked on changes to the chain including adding new ranges. 

Private investment group, Modella Capital also own high street stores, The Original Factory Shop and Hobbycraft. It has also previously put money into chains including Paperchase and Tie Rack.

The WHSmith brand will continue in its travel locations in airports and train stations as well as in hospitals. WHSmith’s say its travel locations make up the bulk of its sales and profits.

WHSmith will also continue to own its personalised greetings card business, funkypidgeon.com.

Carl Cowling, WHSmith’s Chief Executive, said:  “As we continue to deliver on our strategic ambition to become the leading global travel retailer, this is a pivotal moment for WHSmith as we become a business exclusively focused on Travel.

“We have a highly successful Travel business, operating in fast growing markets in 32 countries and we are constantly innovating to deliver strong returns and meet our customers’ and partners’ needs. Our Travel business currently accounts for around 75% of the Group’s revenue and 85% of its trading profit.

“As our Travel business has grown, our UK High Street business has become a much smaller part of the WHSmith Group. High Street is a good business; it is profitable and cash generative with an experienced and high-performing management team. However, given our rapid international growth, now is the right time for a new owner to take the High Street business forward and for the WHSmith leadership team to focus exclusively on our Travel business. I wish the High Street team every success.”

#Business #Hobbycraft #ModellaCapital #OriginalFactoryShop #retail #TGJones #WHSmith

Now, assuming the reason for renaming #WHSmith is that the PE that are buying it want to split the brand keeping the profitable airport stores, flogging the high street business at a later date.

So now my question is, why make up a name with no recognition and not simply resurrect one of WHSmith's defunct trademarks like John Menzies?

Corporate logic:

We are a multinational corporation and want to enter the UK market by purchasing a ubiquitously British Brand.

Also we are going to rename that brand to something meaningless and made up.

https://www.ft.com/content/b3d022ba-8704-4cee-a1c8-8a168155ac29

#WHSmith

##WHSmith becomes #TGJones - that's just adding insult to injury. In the same format, they could have called it #WTFuck.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/28/wh-smith-brand-to-disappear-as-76m-sale-of-stores-to-modella-agreed