Amazon is staking a presence on the UK High Street with a new initiative to deliver ten pop-up shops from Scotland to the south-east.
The 'Clicks and Mortar' chain will offer everything from food and drink to electronics, cosmetics and homeware to passersby with the first store opening today at St Mary’s Gate in Manchester today
Part of a year-long pilot programme in conjunction with Enterprise Nation the initiative is designed to assist 100 small online-only businesses in obtaining a foothold on the High Street including Swifty Scooters, Torro Cases and Altr for Men.
Doug Gurr, Amazon UK’s country manager, said: “Amazon is committed to supporting the growth of small businesses, helping them boost the economy and create jobs across the UK. Small businesses are one of our most important customer groups.”
Amazon’s High Street foray comes amid a deteriorating retail environment with well-known stores with a spate of closures showing no signs of easing as the likes of Boots, TopShop and Marks & Spencer all endure headwinds.
Amazon has already flirted with the idea of introducing its cashier-free Go store to the streets of London.