Waterstones, the UK’s largest commercial property chain specialising in the sale of books is branching out into the e-book reader market after signing a deal with Amazon.
The deal will allow the 300 Waterstones commercial properties to sell the Kindle e-reader, along with other Kindle digital products. The move coincides with Waterstones refurbishment plan for its commercial properties with the addition of new in-store coffee shops, as well as dedicated digital zones and free Wi-Fi.
Speaking of the deal, James Daunt, Managing Director of the company, stated: “At Waterstones, we are committed to improving our bookshops quite radically to offer the best possible book buying experience.
“It is a truly exciting prospect to harness also the respective strengths of Waterstones and Amazon to provide a dramatically better digital reading experience for our customers.”
The move by Waterstones is an effort to try and cement its future on the high street, especially after the recent demise of other well known brands. However, Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO and Founder believes Waterstones has a place on the British high street: “Waterstones is the premier high street bookseller and is passionate about books and readers – a dedication that we share deeply.
“We could never hope for a better partner to bring together digital reading and the physical bookstore.”
Waterstones opened its first commercial property in 1982 in London and to date has over 300 stores in its portfolio. No one shop is the same, as each store has its own unique selection of books and space to promote books specifically chosen by the branch.
The largest commercial property can hold 200,000 books, but the majority of stores hold around 30,000 individual books. Waterstones wants to create a place where people can pick up a book and have a little read before they choose to buy it. “We strive to create places where people who are interested in books can go to browse, a place that encourages new readers to expand horizons,” it stated on their website.
But do you think the Kindle can help Waterstones survive? After all, the e-book reader has been around on the market for some years now, so has Waterstones missed the initial boom? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
