Amazon UK exec calls for High Street/online co-operation

Retail is not a zero-sum game between High Street and online players, argues Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager, Amazon.

In an article for The Herald, he flags up how retailers large and small are realising that customers want both, with physical retail and e-commerce working hand-in-hand to drive growth. “Customer behaviour has to be the starting point for any debate about the future of retail. That may sound simple, but it’s something that too often gets lost. Customers want – and will always want –convenience, choice and competitive prices.”

“It is customers who drive the change they want to see. We could legislate against pioneers like shopping malls and the internet, but customers wouldn’t benefit and innovation would stagnate,” he adds.

“If we are serious about bolstering retail in Scotland and across the UK, we need to work together with a focus on customers’ needs…By embracing this simple fact, and by focusing on customer needs first, retailers of all sizes can continue to succeed and grow for the long-term,” Gurr concludes.

Clicks and Mortar

Last week, a Clicks and Mortar pop-up shop, backed by Amazon to support new retailers, was unveiled at an Edinburgh shopping centre. Further details here.