WHSmith Rebrands to TG Jones in Derby – A New Chapter on the High Street
Hey everyone, have you heard the news? One of Derby’s most familiar high street names has undergone a major transformation. That’s right — WHSmith at the Derbion shopping centre has officially closed... only to reopen under a fresh new name: TG Jones.
This isn’t just a small change. It’s part of a major nationwide rebranding, following the sale of WHSmith’s high street division earlier this year. The Derby store is one of the first in the UK to unveil this new identity, making it a bit of a trailblazer for what’s to come in towns and cities across the country. And yes, this means the entire WHSmith high street operation — all 480 stores — will eventually operate under the TG Jones brand.
Also Read:- Remembering Felix Baumgartner — The Daredevil Who Touched the Edge of Space
- Ideal Weather to Celebrate: San Diego Pride Weekend Shines Bright
If you’re wondering what’s changed, the answer is — not too much, at least not yet. The store still offers all the essentials WHSmith was known for: stationery, books, games, toys, and everyday convenience items. According to the company, the customer experience will only get better under this new chapter. Mike Poole, the store leader at Derby’s TG Jones, spoke about the excitement of putting on the new uniforms and seeing the new storefront come to life. It sounds like the whole team is buzzing with pride.
And this isn’t happening in isolation. WHSmith was sold to Modella Capital — the same company that owns Hobbycraft — in a £76 million deal. The sale includes transferring all staff, assets, and operations over to the new ownership. The strategy behind this is quite clear: WHSmith wants to shift focus toward its booming travel retail division, which has become the core of its business with over 1,200 outlets worldwide at airports, railway stations, and beyond.
Interestingly, those travel stores — including the ones at Derby Railway Station and East Midlands Airport — will keep the WHSmith name for now. So we’ll be seeing both WHSmith and TG Jones brands coexisting in different parts of the retail landscape.
For now, the Derby TG Jones store has resumed normal service with familiar opening hours. Monday to Thursday it’s open from 9am to 6pm, a little later on Fridays and Saturdays until 7pm, and then from 10:30am to 4:30pm on Sundays.
So next time you’re walking through Derbion and looking for your usual WHSmith fix, look out for the sleek new TG Jones branding instead. It marks the end of an era — and the start of something new. Whether it’s nostalgia or curiosity that brings you in, this is one rebrand you’ll want to check out.
Read More:
0 Comments