:joker:

Society is becoming more like Serial Experiments Lain by the day with announcements like this WH Smiths news.

Only watch one episode if you don't like Anime, as it will give you the vibe of what I mean.

It's sad, but the sting is lessened for me on account of how we haven't had a Smith's round ours for probably the better part of a decade now. It got replaced by a Poundland a long time ago. Still, this will permanently close the door on many fond childhood memories of standing in the back of the shop and reading the likes of Lemony Snicket, and also fond teenage memories of bunking off school and hiding in that same aisle to avoid being seen. :laugh:

High Streets all look the same now, lined with big chains... Superdrug, Primark, Starbucks... It's hard to see any regional difference. Bad planning hinders independent shops too. In my local town there's a really nice independent pizza shop. Right next door, a Pizza Hut has just opened. Of course, as it's a big chain, it could afford to buy land at the rear of the store for customer parking. Guess which one's going to fold?

Trumpet's right when he mentions having to pay to park. Big supermarkets have free parking, that's where people shop. And they wonder why High Streets are dying.

I’ve always felt that WH Smith’s was a bit of a rip off. The prices for stuff in there are a bit mad especially the ones in hospitals.

£4 to shop in town

f off

They have been bought for the paltry price of £76m and are rebranding as TJ Jones :umm2: a name they've just made up thinking it sounds like a historic brand

Very naff, wonder how much they paid someone to come up with that

Yes TG Jones

What will they sell?


Also,
can they keep the Post Offices
in them?

they have retained the post office and Toys R Us in the stores going forward. WH Smiths have kept the stores at stations and airports where the money was being made