Amazon to open 10 pop-up stores in UK cities
Amazon.Com Inc.
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09:40 02/05/24
Amazon is set to open 10 pop-up stores called Clicks and Mortar in different UK cities and will give 100 small online businesses an opportunity to sell on the high street for the first time.
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09:40 02/05/24
The shops will sell everything from beauty products and homewares to electronics, food and drink.
The first Clicks and Mortar shop out of the expected 10 will open in St Mary’s Gate in central Manchester, on Monday.
Amazon did not reveal the locations of the other stores but said there would be openings in Wales, Scotland, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the south-east.
Ironically, the shops are opening in the middle of the high street crisis that has major chains including Marks & Spencer and Debenhams struggling and announcing store closures.
It’s especially ironic since online retailers such as Amazon have borne a large part of the blame for loss of consumers on high street with the rise of internet shopping.
Amazon will team up with small business support group Enterprise Nation on the year-long project.
“Small businesses are one of our most important customer groups, and we’re thrilled to work with Enterprise Nation to design a comprehensive package to help entrepreneurs across the UK grow their businesses, both in-store and online,” said Doug Gurr, UK country manager at Amazon.
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “UK shoppers like to shop both online and in high street stores [and this will] enable customers to discover new brands on their local high streets.
“Our intention is to help small businesses succeed by combining the best elements of online and high street retail. This new concept will provide small businesses with the space, technology and support to experience physical retail for the first time.”
Amazon was following in the footsteps of fellow online retailer eBay, which last month opened a pop-up store in Wolverhampton where 40 small businesses display and sell their products.