AMAZON are launching a programme to put small businesses on the high street with a series of pop-up shops.
The online giant’s Clicks and Mortar initiative will open ten stores across the UK in which 100 small online businesses will trade on the high street for the first time.
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The year-long pilot begins with the first shop on St Mary’s Gate, Manchester. More will follow in Wales, Scotland, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the South East.
An independent consultant will produce an analysis of the pilot which will be submitted to the Government.
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation which supports more than 90,000 small businesses, said: “UK shoppers like to shop both online and in high street stores.
“This concept will provide small businesses with the space, technology and support to experience physical retail for the first time while enabling customers to discover new brands.”
Amazon UK’s Doug Gurr said: “Amazon is committed to supporting the growth of small businesses — helping them to boost the economy.”
It is not Amazon’s first experiment with high street shops.
In the US it has a chain of bookstores and has opened four Amazon Go convenience stores.
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