WH Smith
This coverage examines WH Smith’s operations and strategy within the UK retail sector, focusing on travel and high-street store performance, product range adaptations, supply chain logistics, and digital initiatives. Reporting highlights leadership decisions, market positioning, and consumer trends, offering insights for retail executives, category managers, and professionals in travel and convenience retail.
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Jul- 2025 -29 JulyFeatures
Claire’s on the brink: can the chain avoid another collapse?
For decades, Claire’s has been the go-to destination for sparkly earrings, scrunchies and ear piercings – a rite of passage for generations of teenagers. But the glitter is starting to fade. The jewellery and accessories retailer, which operates nearly 300 shops in the UK and more than 2,300 worldwide, has…
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21 JulyHigh Street
Lakeland owner Hilco in race to acquire Claire’s
Hilco Capital, the high street investor behind Lakeland and a former backer of HMV and Superdry, is considering a takeover of Claire’s UK business, according to Sky News. Banking sources have told the outlet that Hilco Capital, who was a recent contender to acquire Poundland, is among the potential bidders…
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Jun- 2025 -30 JuneHigh Street
WH Smith cuts price of high street arm by £12m to close deal
WH Smith has officially completed the sale of its UK high street business to private investment firm Modella Capital for £40m, down from the previously expected £52m. Under the new terms, WH Smith will receive £10m upfront, with up to £20m in deferred payments linked to the business’s cash flow…
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13 JuneHigh Street
Activist investor builds stake in WH Smith
Activist investor Palliser has reportedly acquired close to a 5% stake in WH Smith, worth about £65m at its current share price, according to reports from Sky News. Palliser is thought to hold WH Smith’s management team, led by chief executive Carl Cowling, in high regard with the move coming…
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4 JuneHigh Street
WH Smith travel sales jump 7% ahead of high street arm sale
WH Smith has reported that its travel business revenues have increased 7% on a constant currency basis during the 13-week period to 31 May. The update follows WH Smith’s sale of its high street estate to Modella Capital on 28 March, meaning that it now identifies as “a pure play…
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May- 2025 -19 MayHigh Street
Poundland store closures ‘likely’ as sale nears completion
Poundland store closures are reportedly “likely” as Gordon Brothers, the former owner of Laura Ashley, has emerged as a frontrunner to take control of the group, according to The Times. Bids for the group, which is owned by Pepco and employs more than 16,000 people across the UK and Ireland,…
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6 MayHigh Street
WH Smith buyer faces year-long ban from mass store closures
The new owner of WH Smith’s high street chain has effectively been banned from enacting widespread store closures for at least 12 months following the acquisition of the chain in March. According to Sky News, WH Smith would have the right to cancel a year-long transitional services agreement (TSA) with…
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Apr- 2025 -28 AprilHigh Street
Hilco Capital and Endless table offers for Poundland
Several potential buyers have reportedly tabled their offers to acquire Poundland, after the retailer has been hit by struggling sales and mounting losses in recent months. According to Sky News, Hilco Capital and turnaround investor Endless both set forth their respective proposal offers on Friday (25 April) ahead of a…
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25 AprilHigh Street
Hobbycraft set to close nine stores
Hobbycraft is set to close nine stores, a move affecting up to 126 jobs, as part of a restructure led by new owners Modella Capital, it confirmed to the BBC. The restructuring will also result in redundancies across its Bournemouth head office and distribution centre in Burton-on-Trent but it has…
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16 AprilHigh Street
WH Smith H1 high street profits fall to £15m ahead of sale
WH Smith has reported that high street trading profits fell, from £22m to £15m, in the six months ended 28 February 2025, while total travel trading profits saw an uplift of 12% to £56m during the same period. The group agreed the sale of its UK high street business on…
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