A British retailer with its headquarters in Swindon, England, W. H. Smith & Son (also known as WHS or colloquially as Smith’s, and formerly W. H. Smith & Son) operates a chain of high-street stores as well as shops in railway stations, airports, ports, hospitals and motorway service stations that sell a variety of items including books, stationery, magazines, newspapers, entertainment products, and confectionery.

In 1792, Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna established a news vendor business in London, which they continued until the present day. It remained in the hands of the Smith family for many years and experienced significant growth during the 1970s, as the company began to diversify into new markets and expand its product line significantly. Following the rejection of a private equity takeover bid in 2004, the company refocused its efforts on its core retail operations. It was the world’s first retail chain, and it was also responsible for the invention of the ISBN book identifier, which is still used today.

WHSmith UK is a British retailer that is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and is a component of the FTSE 250 Index. In 2017, the company celebrated its 225th anniversary.

In 1792, Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna started a news vendor business in London’s Little Grosvenor Street, which they continued until the early 1900s.

Following their deaths, their youngest son, William Henry Smith, took over the family business, which was valued in 1812 at £1,280 (equivalent to £87,161 in 2020). In 1846, the firm changed its name to W. H. Smith & Son when his only son, also named William Henry, joined as a partner in the firm. The company took advantage of the railroad boom by setting up newsstands at railway stations, starting with Euston in 1848 and spreading throughout the country. In 1850, the company opened depots in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool, among other locations. It also operated a circulating library service from 1860 to 1961, as well as a publishing business based at the Steam Press in Cirencester, which were both discontinued in 1961. Smith’s younger brother used the firm’s success as a springboard into politics, becoming a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1868 and serving as a minister in a number of conservative administrations.

The younger Smith died in 1891, and his widow was elevated to the position of Viscountess Hambleden in her own right; their son inherited the family business from his father and the viscountcy from his mother. Following the death of the second Viscount in 1928, the business was reorganised as a limited company, in which his son, the third Viscount, owned all of the ordinary shares and was the sole shareholder. When the third Viscount died in 1948, the death duties were so large that it was necessary to form a public holding company and sell shares to WH Smith employees and the general public in order to pay the debts. The third Viscount’s younger brother served as chairman until 1972, but the Smith family’s hold on the company began to wane, and the last Smith family member stepped down from the board in 1996.

In 1986, a WH Smith store in Huntington, England, displayed the previous logo.
Standard Book Numbering, or SBN, was developed by WH Smith in 1966 as a nine-digit code for referencing books that could only be found at WH Smith. After becoming international standard ISO 2108 in 1970, it was used until 1974, when it was replaced by the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) scheme.

WHsmith – 5 Puzzle Games

WHSmith Around The World 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

An absolute must-have for puzzle enthusiasts is WHSmith’s Around the World 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle. Featuring an aerial view of some of the most iconic monuments and landmarks from around the world, this puzzle is certain to provide hours of stimulating entertainment navigating through all the pieces to recreate this stunning image. Perfect for passing an afternoon, enhancing concentration and problem solving skills, or just having fun with family and friends – whatever your reason, you’ll find this jigsaw a challenging and enjoyable experience. With its sleek design and high quality printing on thick cardboard materials, you’ll have something you can proudly display once complete. Don’t miss out on adding this piece of art to your puzzle collection!

The Thomas Kinkade Disney The Little Mermaid 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle is the perfect way to keep the whole family entertained during idle time. Manufactured of strong, high-quality pieces that fit together without a struggle, this puzzle will provide hours of fruitful fun and stimulate problem solving skills. With vibrant colors and trustworthy construction, this jigsaw will allow you to take a leisurely journey into the depths of Ariel’s underwater world with her prince Eric. Keep your entertainment game on point with this attractive and interactive jigsaw.

Why Choose WHsmith?

The list of advantages that WHsmith has over competitors is long. One reason is that brands like WHsmith have stood the test of time and garnered a loyal customer base by providing superior products and service. In addition, they can save money by shopping from stores like WHsmith, who regularly have sales and promotions. It is not difficult to find exactly what they need at stores like WHsmith because of the store’s extensive inventory. When they need books, paper goods, or anything else, they go straight to WHsmith.