What Is Wh Smith Now Called

Wait, Did WHSmith Just… Disappear?

You stroll into a train station, peckish and desperate for a magazine. Your eyes scan for that familiar WHSmith sign. But it’s gone.

Don’t panic. You haven’t entered a parallel universe. The brand is still there—just wearing a very different outfit.

So, What Is It Called Now?

The big, clunky answer is: it depends on where you are. But the trendy, gossip-worthy truth is that WHSmith is slowly becoming Smith’s in the UK.

Yes, they dropped the “WH.” It sounds like a hipster friend who insists on being called just “Smith.” No last name. No initials. Just pure, minimalist branding.

The Great Travel Shop Toilet Paper Mystery

Here’s where it gets funny. WHSmith isn’t even a bookshop anymore. It’s a travel retailer. Seriously.

Think of it as the magical portal you find at airports, hospitals, and motorway services. You go in for a newspaper, and you leave with a sandwich, a neck pillow, and a tiny bottle of shampoo.

In the US, they didn't bother with the name change. They just went full-on “InMotion” or “Marshall Retail Group.” It’s like WHSmith wearing a disguise so you don’t recognize it while you buy a laptop charger.

The “WH” Was Weird Anyway

Let’s be honest: WHSmith sounded like a robot stutter. What did the W and the H even stand for? Henry Walton Smith and his dad William Henry Smith.

Yes, the initials are a family fist bump from the 1800s. Imagine naming your store after your dad’s first two names and your own. It’s chaotic. It’s adorable. And it had to go.

The Real Reason It Changed (It’s Not Boring, I Promise)

Have you tried saying “WHSmith” five times fast after a long flight? It’s exhausting. “Smith’s” rolls off the tongue like butter.

Plus, the internet hates long names. On TikTok and Instagram, “@smiths” looks way cooler than “@whsmith_official.” It’s the same logic behind why we call McDonald’s “Mickey D’s.”

They also wanted to ditch the “library” vibe. No more dusty silence. Smith’s wants to feel energetic. Like a convenience store that forgot to wear a tie.

But Wait—There’s a Rebranding Double-Take!

Here’s the punchline: it’s not fully called Smith’s yet. Some shops still rock the old blue sign. Some are in a weird phase where the sign says “WHSmith” but the receipt says “Smith’s.”

It’s like watching a butterfly that hasn’t decided if it wants to leave the cocoon. Or a teenager who changes their name every week.

In 2023, they started testing the new look in Swindon (yes, the town that sounds like a sneeze). If it works there, you’ll see it everywhere.

Quirky Facts to Impress Your Friends

Did you know WHSmith once sold cocaine? No joke. In the 1800s, they were a “bookseller and stationer,” but cocaine was legal. You could grab a notepad and a line of powder.

Also, they own the longest copyright in publishing history. They printed the first railway timetables. Those tiny, boring booklets made them rich.

Today, they sell more socks than novels. Wrap your head around that. A former bookshop is now a sock-and-sandwich empire.

What About the “W” and the “H”?

Are they angry about being fired? Maybe. But the new logo is quite smart. It’s just the word “Smith’s” in a clean, modern font.

You’ll also see a little icon of a book next to it. A tiny nod to their past. Like a old photo of grandma on your IKEA bookshelf.

Why This Topic Is Actually Fun

Because it’s a secret! Next time you’re in a train station, look for the blue sign. Then look for a Smith’s sign. They are the same thing.

You can whisper to your friend, “Hey, that’s the old WHSmith.” They’ll think you’re a corporate spy. You are a corporate spy.

It’s also a lesson in branding: don’t get too attached to a name. Even a 230-year-old shop can decide to become just Smith.

The Final Punchy Takeaway

So, what is WHSmith called now? In most of the UK: Smith’s. In airports: InMotion. On receipts: a mystery.

But deep down, it’s still the same place. The shop that sells you a KitKat, a birthday card, and a weird feeling that you really need a new pen.

The name changes. The story stays. And you’ll never look at a train station shop the same way again. Now go find a Smith’s—and buy some socks.