Amazon opens first UK non-food store with products including books

Amazon opened its first non-food store in the UK today, which will sell around 2,000 of its most popular and best-rated products, including books.

The Amazon 4-star store, so-called because it will offer products that are rated four stars and above on the website, is in the Bluewater shopping centre near Dartford, and the first outside the US, where there are already more than 30 outlets. 

The range of products, which takes in books, consumer electronics, toys, games and homeware, alongside Amazon devices such as Kindle e-readers, Fire Tablets and Echo Dots, reflects what Amazon customers are buying online. There is also a "Most Wished For" section showing the most popular products from customers' wish lists.

Digital price tags are located alongside each product with the item price, average star rating, and the number of customer reviews. The prices will be the same in-store and online and shoppers do not need to have an Amazon account to use it. However, "Prime members will receive exclusive perks and deals throughout the store," the retailer said.

Customers will also be able to collect items ordered online as well as return items to the store without the need for packaging and labels.

Andy Jones, director of Amazon 4-star UK, said: “The Amazon 4-star store is a great place for customers to discover hot new releases, guaranteed page-turners, top-selling electronics, and more. Every part of the store is designed with our customers in mind and we think they will be delighted by the curated selection of the most-loved products at great prices, opportunity to test drive Amazon’s latest devices, and the convenience of pickup and returns.”

He declined to say how many more stores Amazon plans to open in the UK.