WH Smith PLC is one of the UK’s leading retailers and is made up of two core businesses – Travel and High Street.
The Travel business operates 643 units, mainly in airports, railway stations, motorway service areas, hospitals and workplaces, primarily in the UK. Travel stores sell a more tailored range of products than High Street stores to cater for people on the move or in need of a convenience offer. Travel’s typical customer has less time to browse than the High Street customer and is more interested in reading materials for a journey as well as purchasing food, drink and confectionery.
Due to their location and convenience nature, Travel stores are, on average, significantly smaller than those in the High Street portfolio. Travel now operates from 78 international units in Europe, the Middle East, Australia, South-East Asia and India. Travel is less affected by the Christmas trading period. Increased passenger traffic during the summer holiday season, particularly in airports, contributes to a summer peak in sales.
The High Street business operates 621 stores with an extensive reach across the UK and a presence on nearly every significant UK high street. High Street sells a wide range of products, which are divided into the following categories: Stationery (including greetings cards), Books, and News and Impulse (including newspapers, magazines and confectionery), as well as a small range of Entertainment products in some stores. High Street’s trading is seasonal, peaking at Christmas, with other peaks at Easter and in August / September for ‘Back to School’.
The online retail business is operated by High Street and sells a range of Books, Stationery, Magazines and Gifts through its website at www.whsmith.co.uk and personalised greetings cards and gifts through www.funkypigeon.com and www.funkypigeon.ie.
Overall, WHSmith employs approximately 16,000 staff, primarily in the UK.
WH Smith PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SMWH) and is part of the FTSE mid 250 Index.
A commitment to the principles of corporate responsibility is at the heart of WHSmith. We continue to be ranked highly in the Business in the Community’s Corporate Responsibility Index in recognition of our performance.
