After 200 years WH Smith is dragging itself into the next century

摘要

Few retailers have succeeded in building such a dominant position in their markets as WH Smith achieved in books. Prior to the sale of the Waterstone's chain earlier this year, Smith's controlled more than 25% of the UK book market, more than three times the share of its nearest competitor. Only Boots in health and beauty and Sears in shoes have achieved similar power, though the latter's influence has recently been unravelled. Even following the Waterstone's deal, Smith's remains number two in the market with a name synonymous with book retailing for the middle-market book buyer.