While most companies are making the switch from physical to digital, it looks like Amazon might be going in the opposite direction. According to rumors online, Amazon is planning to roll out a retail store within the next few months. This retail store will be somewhere in Seattle and is said to be a test of the market to see whether a chain of stores would be profitable. Apparently Amazon will be going with the small boutique route, with the main emphasis on Amazon Exclusives as well as their eBook readers and tablets – the Kindle and Kindle Fire (as well as various accessories for the devices).
Devices won’t be the only things exclusive to the store – apparently Books from Amazon’s own publishing division will be on display on shelves in the stores as well. With competitors like Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million refusing to sell Amazon’s books, I guess the company needs some way to push its own physical titles. Users will also be able to sample eBooks via WiFi whenever they visit an Amazon store.
Sounds like an interesting venture for Amazon to undertake but I guess where they go from here will depend on the response to their stores. What do you think? Should Amazon bother with launching its own retail outlets or should it continue running the way it is currently run?
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