TEDDINGTON’S WH SMITH IS REBRANDED
The former WH Smith store in Teddington’s Broad Street has now been officially rebranded following the takeover of the chain.
The sign above the shop – in a similar shade of blue to the traditional colour of WH Smith’s distinctive coloured signage – now says TG JONES.
The new name has been made up and deliberately styled to echo the historic WH Smith brand which was founded in London in 1792 by news vendor Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna.
A spokesperson told Teddington Town: “All High Street stores, including Teddington and Twickenham, will move under Modella Capital’s ownership. The stores will continue to operate for a short transitional period under the WHSmith brand whilst the business rebrands as TGJones.”
However, it will continue to be the trading name for hundreds of WH Smith travel outlets in the UK and 32 other countries at airports, train stations, motorway service station, and at hospitals.
The High Street business employs around 5,000 colleagues across 480 stores.
They will keep the same range of products and services, including the Post Office and Toys “R” Us outlets “while Modella Capital works with the management team to define and execute a strategy to introduce new ranges and other offerings in the future.”
A Modella spokesperson said: “We are delighted to have been the successful bidder for one of the UK’s most iconic retail businesses.
“WHSmith stores are present in prime locations across many towns and cities across the country, and for more than two centuries have been an important feature in the UK retail landscape. T
“Today, over one million customers visit these stores every week. Modella Capital believes strongly in the future of the high street, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to take a heritage brand and develop it further in the coming years. “TG Jones feels like a worthy successor to the WHSmith brand. Jones carries the same sense of family and reflects these stores being at the heart of everyone’s high street.
“There will be a handover period in the immediate term, and it is very much business as usual whilst we work closely with the management team to define and execute a strategy to introduce new ranges and other offerings in the future.”
Sean Toal, CEO of the new TG Jones business, added: “Selling the High Street business has been a significant milestone for the WHSmith Group, and I am delighted that we have agreed a sale with Modella Capital who, I know, will be supportive new owners.