Times Onlinereports that Amazon.com is "secretly" seeking properties for physical stores in the UK.
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.
Times Online says Amazon.com wants to benefit from increasing consumer interest in buying products online and picking them up in stores. There have been many retail vacancies in the UK caused by the recession. With Borders UK also potentially failing, Amazon.com should not have trouble finding locations at a good price.
