Launch of Online Kiosks

Smith WH PLC
24 March 2000


WHSmith Launches Online Kiosks in Stores

WHSmith is opening online shopping kiosks in its high street and
travel stores.  From next week, web-enabled kiosks will be launched in
nineteen shops in London and the Southeast.

Customers will be able to browse and buy from WHSmith's complete
online product range which includes 1.4 million book titles, plus an
additional 250,000 CDs, videos and DVDs, games and stationery
products.  Customers can have goods delivered directly to their home
or any address within the UK, including the WHSmith shop from which
they make their online purchase.

Along with the extended product range, customers will now be able to
return goods instore or to WHSmith Online regardless of where a
purchase is made.  WHSmith Clubcard holders will have the additional
benefit of earning Clubcard points on their online purchases,
redeemable in stores.

Chief Executive Richard Handover said: 'This is the next step our
strategy to differentiate WHSmith from the other e-commerce pure
plays.  Over the next few months we will listen to our customers and
shape the national rollout based on their reaction to the kiosks.
WHSmith is now established at the leading edge of multi-channel
retailing.'

Since the launch of WHSmith Online in April 1999, the company has
developed its business to integrate leading technical e-commerce
capability with the physical network of 700 stores under one powerful
brand.  WHSmith is currently the only UK bookseller where customers
can shop via the Internet, digital TV, on the high street and later
this month, via mobile telephone technology.   Its free subscription
ISP service is one of the UK's leading ISPs in the family and
education market.

Future plans for the kiosks include real-time broadcasts of author
appearances to shops across the country, plus sampling of
entertainment products online.

Notes to editors:

The initial online kiosks will go into the following WHSmith stores:

Bexleyheath            Farnham
Putney                 Kensington
Kingston               Guildford
Brent Cross            Bluewater Park
Croydon                Sloane Square
Godalming              Leadenhall
Holborn                Leatherhead
Richmond               Victoria Station
Sevenoaks              Heathrow Airport, Terminal 1
                       Paddington Station


WHSmith is the UK's leading seller of books, newspapers, magazines and
stationery.  It has 529 high street stores and a further 183 stores on
railway stations and in airports.

WHSmith Online http://www.whsmith.co.uk is one of the UK's leading
online service providers.

Enquiries:
WHSmith PLC                                  020 7409 3222
Tim Blythe, Sian Wood