16-07-2025
WHSmith posts urgent warning to shoppers so they don't lose out on cash as it rebrands 500 high street stores
WHSMITH customers have been warned they need to spend their unused gift vouchers before they become worthless.
The struggling retailer is set to disappear from the high street in a matter of weeks as its new owner rebrands it to TGJones.
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The stationery giant has been a feature of the British high street since the 1800s but has fallen on hard times in recent years.
Now Sun checkers can reveal bosses at the ailing favourite are already reminding punters to use their unspent gift vouchers in stores while they are still valid up until the end of June next year.
Signs headed "Important Notice on Changes to WHSmith Gift Cards' erected at the firm's Croydon branch in south London state: 'This store, along with all other former high street stores, is now owned and operated by TG Jones.
'This has an impact on how you can use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card.
'You can continue to use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card in this store and in other TGJones, and on up until June 28, 2026, in accordance with the terms and conditions for your WHSmith gift card or eGift card.
'Before and after June 28, 2026, you may continue to use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card in WHSmith stores in travel locations and hospitals (excluding concessions and stores located at motorway service stations, WHSmith Local, London Underground sites or WHSmith franchise stores), in accordance with the terms and conditions for your WHSmith gift card or eGift card.'
Consumer experts have urged shoppers to use their vouchers before it's too late.
Martyn James, Sun Squeeze Team Member and independent consumer champion, said: 'When a company goes bust, then your vouchers, gift cards and even store credit vanish, never to be seen again.
"So, when you hear that a business is in trouble, spend,spend, spend, or lose your credit.
'However, WHSmith didn't go bust, it was purchased by another business.
WHSmith sells 500 UK shops
"Where this happens and the business rebrands, it is usually down to the business on whether it must honour credit vouchers and gift cards.
'This often depends on whether it was a direct takeover (usually honoured) or the sale of a failing business (the new retailer doesn't take on liability).
'In this case, WHSmith customers have less than a year to spend their vouchers, which in fairness, is often how long they last before expiring anyway.
"But, if you have vouchers, get online or in-store and spend them - or risk losing the credit forever.'
WHSmith stores that have closed
A total of 20 WHSmith stores shut this year ahead of the rebrand.
The retailer's Bedford site is set to close on July 5.
The store in the Frenchgate Centre in Doncaster closed on May 31, while the Stockton branch also shut on May 17.
Branches in Halstead and Woolwich shut on April 12, and Halesowen and Diss followed on April 19.
Just a week later, stores in Newport and Haverhill also pulled down the shutters.
Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, added: 'Usually if a retailer you have a gift card for goes bust, you may struggle to get your money back.
'In this case, WHSmith has been bought and rebranded as TGJones and existing gift cards and vouchers can be used both online and in store up until June 28, 2026.
'Before and after this date, you can still redeem vouchers at WHSmith travel locations, including airports and hospitals.
'If the gift card or voucher was bought through a third party, check to see if the purchaser can approach them for a refund.
"The purchaser has no right to a refund but the third-party company may choose to refund you as a gesture of goodwill."
Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital agreed a deal to take over the chain's troubled high street arm back in March.
As part of the deal, all 464 remaining high street stores are rebranding to TGJones.
The sale has now officially completed and the WHSmith website has rebranded, while all stores are listed on Google as TGJones.
Some shoppers have already spotted signs going up in stores reading 'Thank you for shopping at TGJones.'
Modella put in planning applications to local councils to change the signage on its stores last month.
History of WHSmith
The rebranding means the WHSmith name will be disappearing from the high street for good.
WHSmith's travel stores will still remain in airports, hospitals, railway stations and motorway service areas as these have not been taken over by Modella.
The first WHSmith store was opened back in 1792 was opened by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna.
It was located in Little Grosvenor Street, London and was initially a news vendor.
When Henry and Anna died, the business was taken over by their youngest son William Henry Smith.
He renamed the business WH Smith & Son in 1846.
The business began expanding around this time and opened its first railway news stand at Euston Station in 1848.
It opened its first depots two years later in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool.
WH Smith & Son continued to be passed down by the family before becoming a limited company in 1928, with all shares owned by the third Viscount.
The company became a public limited business in 1948, with staff and members of the public taking shares.
The business expanded hugely between the 1970s and 1990s, and during this time changed its name to simply WHSmith.
The last member of the Smith family left the board in 1996.
Over the years, the brand has sold a variety of products including everything from vinyl records to DVDs and computer games.
But it has always been best known for its wide variety of books, stationery, and sweets.
In more recent years, WHSmith has struggled on the high street – although its travel sales have surged.
The company confirmed in January it would sell off its high street business.
Modella then snapped up WHSmith's high street stores after an auction process.
Shoppers have also started receiving emails from TGJones.
One confused customer wrote on social media: 'I got an email from TG Jones thinking how? Then realised its WHSmith's new name, crazy.'
Another added: 'I keep getting emails from someone called TG Jones and it was apparently a company that has changed its name, it was failing to tell me what company…just had another one and it's WHSmith??? WHAT.'
Other customers have expressed sadness at the loss of the iconic retailer from Britain's high streets.
One wrote: 'New generation will never experience the feeling of going to WHSmith in your Year 6 summer holidays and building a pencil case from scratch and picking all your stationary for Year 7.'
Another sad shopper added: 'I did my school shopping every year at WHSmith since reception, same with my sister too, this is so sad.'
While a third nostalgic punter wrote: 'My parents met working at WHSmith and they've been married 30 years.'
