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As predicted (by me), TGJones are the new Smiths - it won't affect most.
Mergers, alliances, takeovers will be common in the future - for business generally.
Even VW are in crisis - yet some posters (who hated Boris) now hate Starmer! Many don't vote!
Green Man
Now WH Smith is going to be re-branded TG Jones which is stupid. At least with WH Smith is iconic but their biggest failure was not playing Catch-Up.
There should be kiosks with a tablet so you can order media for either pick up or home delivery. Virgin Megastores was great for that.
Downing Street Cat
Green Man wrote: Downing Street Cat wrote: WH Smith didn't adapt with the changing times. Expensive, smaller stores were badly planned, they didn't hold much appeal for youngsters. I noticed how our local one seemed to attract old folk ..a smattering of men in flat caps and trench coats flicking through magazines and end up buying a Daily Mail. It needed an injection of excitement and a less stodgy and outdated welcome. The manager of the local store was very Captain Peacock, peering at you over spectacles as if one was about to stuff a James Herbert down ones trousers. WH Smith were always doomed.
Magazines have pretty much had their day. It's done online now or interviews are on podcasts. I go to WHsmith for the Post Office, I can walk past their newspapers, pens, paperbacks, cards without giving a second glance.
I have noticed many Smiths are located to next to places Works or Poundland and are much cheaper for envelopes and pens.
Smiths should have never got rid of home media, they stock staff that was not in record shops and much cheaper also. Now they tell you to order online or order instore.
I did a order book instore, after 3 weeks I was told they didn't order the book...but they still took the money. I had get the store manager to give me a refund eventually. Agreed GM. Not a store I visited often. Did when younger, but of course a different world then.