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By David Rothman

Imagine stepping into a brick-and-mortar store to try out the latest Kindle or buy a DVD. That could happen, at least in the UK, if the Times is correct. Here’s a snippet:

image image Amazon, the world’s biggest online retailer and scourge of bookshops everywhere, is planning a surprise invasion of the British high street.

Property landlords said that the American company, which has a market value of $59.1 billion (£35.6 billion), had launched a secret search for bricks-and-mortar stores to support its rapidly growing website. It is understood to be scouring the country for high-profile sites just as the Borders book chain is shutting up shop.

It represents an extraordinary reversal from the dotcom boom, when there were fears that internet shopping would kill off the high street. It would also be the most high-profile move by a web-only retailer into stores.

Lastminute.com is one of only a handful of web retailers to have opened shops. It has kiosks in train stations to support its late booking service for holidays, hotels and pamper days.

Hmm. Will Amazon buy old locations from the sinking Borders UK? And might this help Barnes & Noble in the U.S., with its plans for to mix cyber and brick-and-mortar retailing? Also, if Amazon’s UK initiative succeeds, how long until we see the company trying the same in the States? I also wonder if this could mean more focus on paperbooks sold with e-book downloading privileges?

(Thanks to Gary Price of ResourceShelf.)

 
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