UK. WHSmith has opened a flagship standalone bookshop concept airside at London Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal.
The 170sq m ‘The Bookshop by WHSmith’ complements the two airside WHSmith stores in range, and features the company’s ‘store of the future’ concept design.
The shop aims to offer customers an authentic bookshop experience through a wide of selection of books which range from mass market titles to children’s literature.
An array of ‘Recommended Reads’ are offered at the new store (pictured above) along with handwritten recommendations by WHSmith booksellers. A ‘Read Around The World’ selection offers travellers the opportunity to pick up books related to their destination countries.
The new store opening follows WHSmith Travel’s recent success at the British Book Awards where it claimed the ‘Book Retailer of the Year Award.
“We’re delighted to be launching our flagship ‘The Bookshop by WHSmith’ at Gatwick North,” said WHSmith Travel Managing Director Toby Keir. “Such an exciting and completely unique bookshop not only supports our strong relationship with Gatwick but builds on our position as a world-class bookseller as we continue to deliver fantastic choice and recommendations to our travelling customers.”
Gatwick Airport Head of Retail Rachel Bulford commented: “The opening of ‘The Bookshop by WHSmith’ is the latest, exciting milestone for both the continued development of our North Terminal and our partnership with WHSmith. ‘The Bookshop by WHSmith’ supports the ongoing growth in our retail offering and we are delighted that we will be able to provide such a large range of books to meet the reading requirements of all our passengers travelling through the North Terminal.”
