Amazon is having a rethink on its retail ambitions after years of expansion. According to reports, the company said it would close all 68 of its physical bookstores, pop-up locations and 4-star shops in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Amazon made it known in a statement issued to the New York Times that in-person retail was still significant and that its focus would be on its cashierless Just Walk Out tech, its grocery stores and its recently launched Los Angeles clothing store.
While talking further about the closure, Amazon said closure dates would vary depending on the store and that workers at affected locations may be employed at nearby Amazon shops.
Recently, Amazon shared its full statement with Engadget. The statement read: “We’ve decided to close our Amazon 4-star, Books, and Pop Up stores, and focus more on our Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, Amazon Go, and Amazon Style stores and our Just Walk Out technology. We remain committed to building great, long-term physical retail experiences and technologies, and we’re working closely with our affected employees to help them find new roles within Amazon.”
