Well how the wheel (or perhaps the turntable) turns! My wonderful boss at WHSmith in the 1980s, Buying Director Bryan Austin, will be turning in his grave. Records were removed by Bryan, ably advised by Tim Coates, as they were a low margin, low sales density distraction which compromised the authority of the core categories of books, stationery and news. Of course there’s been a recent resurgence in vinyl, and with only two modules in my local store in Henley perhaps it’s just shrewd opportunism…
They will be removed after Christmas. People don't want to buy records in WH Smith. Silly move in my opinion.
Andy Costain
3w
Was in Salisbury Smith's last week, clean, well stocked, all the lights on, all the tills working. Upstairs toys r us in place and manned! It looked very good, a real positive change from previous visits in recent years. Vinyl was front and centre 🤣
Tim Bates
3w
Interesting. Of course, there are far fewer record stores on the High Street now than there were in the 80s and 90s (think Our Price, Virgin etc). So maybe a very shrewd move to attract todays young vinyl buyers.
If you remember Alan I did the TV sofa interviews when Vinyl came out, and I couldn’t agree more about Bryan Austin!
Glynn Davis
3w
Back to the future Alan Giles…Yet again in retail.
Alan, even the iconic cube logo has made a return. 😍. You mention our core categories (which are high volume and high margin) I am not sure there’s much meterage left for those among the Toys R Us and Post Office counters which make up the High Street Retail estate now. Good to see the interest and investment though. Hope you and the family are well.
I'd just like them to replace the blown lightbulbs in our local branch ...
Enjoying early retirement
6dLots of old acquaintances named there Alan - I remember every one very well (and your good self, of course!)