New Aussie venture for WH Smith

AN ambitious plan by WH Smith to open 12 more stores in Australia over the next two years could radically change the face of book retailing there. The bookseller already has around 20% of the A$1.8bn (£668m) Aussie market after buying a local chain last year, but now plans to roll out its own brand.

The mixture of daily reading titles next to other stock such as music, books and stationery will be new to Australia, where there is a clear differentiation between retailers selling books and newsagents selling newspapers, magazines, and stationery.

Asia Pacific chief executive Mike Ferrand, announcing the launch, said: 'Our research shows two strong consumer trends. People have more money to spend on themselves and generally less time to shop. So, convenience is becoming increasingly important.'

WH Smith operates in 13 countries and last year paid £38m for Australian book chain Angus and Robertson and New Zealand's Whitcoulls and Bennets. Ferrand calls Angus and Robertson a 'value' brand and said WH Smith is synonymous with 'convenience'.

Smith's move is the first major foray by British retailers into Australia since aborted attempts by Boots and Marks & Spencer.