Amazon has announced plans to launch Clicks and Mortar, a chain of retail stores that will open in the main shopping corridors of British cities.
The Internet giant plans to launch ten pop-up trading platforms to support the business of small online stores.
Through the opening of street retail stores, Amazon hopes to give small businesses a chance for the first time to participate in traditional retail on high-traffic streets.
The year-long program officially kicked off with the launch of the first store on St Mary's Gate in Manchester city centre. The retail space is surrounded by flagship stores of Zara, Coach, & Other Stories, UGG and other brands.
In the near future, Amazon expects to open Clicks and Mortar stores in Wales, Scotland, as well as in central England, in the north and southeast of the country. The analysis of the pilot project will be carried out by independent analysts who will report back to the UK government.
“British consumers value online and offline shopping and our mission is to help small businesses successfully combine the benefits of online shopping with top street retail locations,” said Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, supporting more than 90,000 business people in the UK.
The new concept will provide small businesses with the space, technology and support to enter the world of traditional retail. At the same time, shoppers will have the chance to discover new brands in familiar locations in the city center.”
For Amazon, the Clicks and Mortar project is not the first experiment in traditional retail. In the US, the online retailer operates Amazon Go, an innovative convenience store chain, as well as a bookstore chain. The Amazon Go format will soon be launched in the UK market.
