On May 11, two WHSmith stores have closed shop permanently as the British high street continues to evolve over time.
As more people turn to online shopping, and higher rents are being charged to business owners, the retail market has to move with the times.
Yet, while a couple of WHSmith stores have closed down, the business is anchoring new opportunities.
Even though the WHSmith in Slough, Berkshire, has closed down, there is big change on the horizon.
The Retail Gazette reported that WHSmith has unveiled 17 new Toys R Us shop-in-shops this summer.
So while a second WHSmith store in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, closed down on May 11, the high street giant is planning on more Toys R Us concessions in its stores.
Stores closed on May 11:
Slough, Berkshire
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
The first 17 new Toys R Us locations:
Fosse Park, Leicester
Guildford, Surrey
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Hastings, East Sussex
Hereford, Herefordshire
Lancaster, Lancashire
Maidstone, Kent
Newton Abbott, Devon
Richmond, London
Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Sutton, London
Taunton, Somerset
Thurrock, Essex
Victoria Centre, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Woking, Surrey
The first concessions will open on May 25 in the WHSmith stores in Fosse Park, Hereford and Royal Leamington Spa.
A further 30 is planned in time for Christmas, proving that investing in the high street is still a priority for the business.
WHSmith high street managing director Sean Toal said: “Not only is this an exceptionally exciting time for our colleagues and customers, but we’re also proud to be bucking the trend by continuing to invest in the UK high street.
“We’re known for being the ‘Hub of the High Street’ by providing customers with a range of great products and services, from books and stationery to Post Office services across 200 locations.
“With Toys R Us set to be in a further 30 stores by the end of August this gives customers even more reasons to shop with us.”
The first Toys R Us concession opened in June 2023 at WHSmith’s Monks Cross Retail Park store in York.