Booktopia unswayed by Amazon’s bricks and mortar move
CEO of Australian online retailer Booktopia, Tony Nash, was unmoved by Amazon’s decision to open a physical bookstore in its hometown of Seattle last week.
“This story has not inspired us to follow in their footsteps,” Nash said.
Last week, Amazon, the online giant which has unsettled booksellers for the past 20 years, put the spotlight back on its book business.
“These aren’t metaphorical doors – these real, wooden doors are the entrance to our new store in Seattle’s University Village,” the company announced online.
Booktopia, which acquired Angus and Robertson Bookworld earlier this year, remains firmly focused on online retail.
“We are continuing to build our logistical operations by holding more stock, automating our distribution centre, adding more lines of products and shipping products faster to Australians,” Nash said.
“This year Booktopia will ship over four million books to Australians and achieve revenue just under $90 million per year. We fully intend to focus on online retailing and be the alternative to the plethora of great physical bookshops that are scattered across the country.”
Amazon Books, as the store is called, is described as the physical extension of Amazon.com. The books in the store are selected based on Amazons’ customer ratings, pre-orders, sales and popularity, with most rated four stars or above.
Amazon has guaranteed prices will be the same online and off, however shoppers are encouraged to use the Amazon mobile app to read additional customer reviews, get more detailed information about a product, or to buy products online.
Amazon devices, such as the Kindle, Echo, Fire TV, and Fire Tablet, are also available in the store.
What do you think of Amazon’s omnichannel play? Tell us in the comments below.
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Kate
Sadly, Amazon hasn’t opened in Australia and Amazon’s POSTAGE from the USA to Australia is over the top. I could have bought a book in Australia brand new unused, great text, for 21.95. I paid over 65 from Amazon.