WHSmith Store Closures: Effects on UK High Street and the Company's New Strategy

WHSmith store closures are a big blast for the UK high streets.WHSmith store is a street retailer that announced the closure of its number of stores. At present, the company has closed its various branches in different locations in 2024. Moreover, there are several chances by the closer of more stores in 2025.

A source revealed that: 

• The “Old Christchurch Road” branch in Bournemouth will close in January 2025. 

• In February 2025, the Basingstoke store in the Malls shopping centre will close. 

• And the Accrington branch will be closed in March 2025.

Carl Cowling, the CEO of the WHSmith store revealed while talking to BBC that now, the company are not interested in opening more branches on the UK high street. He further said that instead of opening branches on UK high streets, the company is focusing on opening stores in hospitals, railway stations, and airports. He also told to BBC, that there is no doubt about a good business in the UK High Street but we are not interested in increasing it any more. He said that opening more new stores on Hight Street just “would just be a duplication”

The company announced the opening of almost 110 new stores, and most of them are on railway stations and airports. The reason behind taking this step is that the company got profit behind the travel division is 10% while the income behind the high street has decreased 3%. The Cowling has said we invested more than 100 million pounds on airports. He added in the next 4 years our aim is to get 20% of the airport retail market. 

The decision of WHSmith, to close high street stores and open stores in travel locations, reflects consumer trends and the trends of online shopping. However, it impacts local communities, who rely on it where these stores have been alive for centuries and play a crucial role in the local economy. The WHSmith store closures will not only impact local employment but will have a bad effect on the high streets' overall situation.

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