WHSmith

WHSmith is the UK's leading books and magazine chain. Headquartered in Swindon, England.

The company was founded in 1828, the first railway station bookstore was opened in 1848, the online mail-order bookstore, 1999.

Today, the company employs approximately 17,000 people.

In addition to over 500 inner-city book stores, the chain operates about 120 railway station and airport bookshops in the British Isles. There are also branches in Paris, at the airport Copenhagen, on the Stockholm-Arlanda Airport and an online mail order bookshop. In addition, WHSmith also operates a large newspaper and magazine delivery.

At WHSmith, the international book numbering system " ISBN " was developed and introduced in 1966 ( as " SBN ").