The Wall Street Journal has reported that online giant Amazon may open a brick-and-mortar store in New York City to maintain in-person relationships with customers. The retail store would open in time for the upcoming holiday season and be used as a warehouse, where customers would pick up, return or exchange orders they’ve made online. The store would also feature limited inventory for same-day deliveries. A spokesperson for the company refrained from confirming or denying news of a physical store.
On a similar note, Amazon has recently announced an interest in expanding its high-end jewellery and watch selection. Several online jewellery retailers have made efforts to reach out to customers physically and in-person by opening brick-and-mortar stores, including Blue Nile. The brand has featured product display cases in Nordstrom stores.
Research by Retail Doctor Group (RDG) found that 80 per cent of jewellery purchases are made in store, which underlines the importance of establishing an in-person relationship between the retailer and the customer. CJ
