WHS tries franchising with newsagents

08.07.13 | Bookseller Staff

W H Smith is trialling franchising agreements with independent newsagents in its latest new store format exercise.

The first W H Smith Local is being trialled in Clapham, London, with two more in Purley, Surrey, and Headington, Oxford, to be completed this month, according to the Telegraph.

Independent newsagents could benefit from streamlined sourcing and lower cost prices, while WHS would increase its high street store portfolio.

In other store format trials, W H Smith has also opened two Zoodle children’s book stores in the UK, a Books Plus and the London Trading Company. In April, The Bookseller revealed that the company was also to open a new store in Cardiff University selling a small range of 20 bestsellers.