Amazon's first UK non-food store opens at Bluewater

Ecommerce giant Amazon has opened the doors to the first Amazon 4-star store outside of the US, stocking the etailer's top-rated own and third-party products.

Located at Kent's Bluewater Shopping Centre, the store includes consumer electronics, homeware, toys, games, books, kitchen items and more. Customers are also able to select from a full range of Amazon devices, including Kindle e-Readers, Fire Tablets, and Echo Dots.

Customers are able purchase items online and collect at the store as soon as the next day. It also offers parcel free, label free returns for items purchased both in store and online.

Digital price tags are located alongside each product, featuring the price, average rating, and the number of customer reviews.

The store also features a table for the "most wished for" items, as well as those which have been "most gifted". Customers can keep up-to-date with what's "trending in Bluewater" as part of another display dedicated to the items local customers are searching for the most.

Amazon currently has over 30 non-food stores in the US, with prices of items matching its online offer. Earlier this year, Amazon opened its first UK "contactless" grocery store store, enabling shoppers to walk out of the store without using a checkout.

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.”

Rob Hardie, Portfolio Director for Landsec, Co-owner and Asset Manager of Bluewater commented: “We are excited to welcome the UK’s first Amazon 4-star store to Bluewater. We aim to create retail destinations that offer guests retail and leisure that cannot be found anywhere else.”

Bluewater has long been a destination for retail trailblazers, including the recent opening of new global concepts for Zara and Nespresso, as well as the bricks and mortar debuts of Crep Collection Club, the trend-led sneaker specialists, and Vanilla, the accessible fashion concept brand.

The store, opening today, also allows customers to pay with cash, debit/credit card and through the Amazon app using the 4-star QR code at the checkout.