WHSmith has unveiled the first UK branch of InMotion, its specialist travel fascia.
The branch, at Leeds Bradford Airport, which serves 4 million passengers a year, sells technology products such as headphones and travel accessories.
The opening follows WHSmith’s £155m acquisition last year of InMotion, the biggest retailer of electronics in the US, where it has more than 125 branches.
WHSmith Travel managing director Toby Keir said: “We are excited to bring the InMotion brand to UK passengers for the first time. Already a staple in digital accessories retail in North America, InMotion will strengthen our presence in UK travel retail and provide a unique shopping experience for our customers.”
InMotion chief executive Jeremy Smith said: “We are proud to partner with Leeds Bradford Airport in bringing InMotion’s first entry to the UK market with many more to come.
“By combining best practices from both InMotion and WHSmith, the shopping experience for the Leeds traveller will be first-class from a store design, product selection and customer service perspective.”
WHSmith’s travel division has been growing strongly. The retailer has more approximately 400 stores in 99 airports globally.
In the first half of its current financial year, the travel business delivered a rise in total revenue of 18%, or 8% excluding InMotion.
At the time of the interim results in April, WHSmith chief executive Steve Clarke highlighted the international potential of InMotion, which had extended its reach beyond its US heartland to open in Australia and Spain.
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