First of all Microsoft announces plans for a flagship Fifth Avenue Store to compete with Apple’s iconic glass cube, and now Amazon apparently wants to get in on the brick-and-mortar game, too.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon plans to open its first physical retail store in time for Christmas on Manhattan’s 34th Street.
While that might seem counter-intuitive for a company which essentially dealt the death knell to many brick-and-mortar stores, it’s designed to be an extension of the online experience — offering customers the ability to pick up orders placed online, or return and exchange products.
The store itself is located in a 12-story building, which will function much like a miniature Amazon warehouse.
Although it’s certainly a different retail approach to the one employed by Apple, it nonetheless is another example of the two companies competing over similar turf. In recent years Amazon and Apple have taken on one another in the smartphone sector (handily won by Apple) and the e-book arena (victory: Amazon).
Now it looks like they’re set to compete over the retail experience in New York, with Amazon’s outlet being within striking distance of several notable Apple Stores.
Let the battle commence!
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
8 responses to “Amazon to take on Big Apple with brick-and-mortar retail store”
I don’t really see this as an Amazon/Apple matchup. Sounds more like they’ll be competing with Walmart to me.
I agree with Jeff, this really isn’t a move to compete with Apple.
I believe Gateway tried this approach as well and we saw how successful that was….
Why? Just why?
Good luck have fun
In the UK we already have bricks and mortar Amazon stores…they are called Argos…currently struggling to pay bills on retail stores and changing to a more online business model.
Amazon is the most successful drop ship business invented, why would they really rent 11 storeys of storage to have one floor of actual retail space?
So begins Amazons fall and this ill conceived idea will lead it.
“Amazon to take on Big Apple with brick-and-mortar retail store”
Poor, rich Bezos. He just can’t stand that he’s not on top, not as respected as his corporate peers, and—compared to Apple—practically broke as a company. Sure, lots of orders and deliveries, but profit is a new thing for Amazon. In any case, attempting to go brick-and-mortar for any reason, much less against Apple, is just plain vain, and stupid. The predictable failure of the Fire Phone is obviously already forgotten by Jeff. Good luck to him, however.