Amazon Inc., the online retailing juggernaut, is all set to take over the entire building that sits right opposite to the iconic Empire State building in New York City. The company will be opening the store in time for the holiday season.
The Wall Street Journal broke news of the store's opening at 7 West 34th Street noting that it will actually serve as a warehouse that will provide on-spot delivery to customers. It is still unclear if the store is a pop-up store for the holiday season or a permanent one.
While The Journal broke news citing sources familiar with the matter, Amazon declined to comment on the store's opening and even refuted the news.
"We have made no announcements about a location in Manhattan," a spokeswoman told USA Today.
Amazon operates a "Click and Collect" strategy, which has already tested successful in Europe. Customers order online and pick up their delivery from the store.
"While most brick-and-mortar retailers fear Amazon, Amazon clearly fears them, too," Faith Hope Consolo of Douglas Elliman told New York Daily News.
"Click and collect is already huge in Europe, so it makes sense for Amazon to test it here," Consolo added.
Other experts believe that this strategy of Amazon could boost sales volume for the company and could also prove to be "a tremendous uptick for tourists", according to USA Today.
Chris Donnelly, global managing director of retail strategy at Accenture, also told The New York Times that since retail shopping experience cannot be dictated by a retailer, this move by Amazon makes complete sense.
"It makes sense to have a physical showroom to let people see Amazon's hardware products, particularly with the Kindle priced at $100. You want to touch and see and feel these things," Colin Gillis, an analyst at BGC Partners, told the publication.
While this is Amazon's first tangible retail venture in the Big Apple, the company has been expanding its commercial footprint taking up office space in and around the city. More recently, it was reported that the e-tailing giant could possibly be occupying space at the 1133 Avenue of the Americas building at West 44th Street.
