Amazon opens first physical book shop in Seattle

It may come as a shock to some, especially those who thought that Amazon had killed off the traditional book retailer, but the online shopping forum has opened its first physical book shop.

UK book lovers don't get too excited just yet though because this initial shop has opened in Seattle, USA.

Amazon describes the stores as an extension of Amazon.com and although it is made of bricks and mortar the company notes that this is a store 'without walls'.

The thriving business will use its data to fill the shelves with the books people are looking for.

Books will be selected based on customer ratings and pre-orders on the site.

This will of course include best sellers, but also reads that get the highest ratings online, including little-known titles.

Although the space is mainly stocked with paper books, the store will also have an option to test-drive Amazon's devices such as the Kindle, Echo, Fire TV and Fire tablet.

Luckily for those savvy shoppers, the prices in store will match those that can be found online.

Amazon Books aims to encourage patrons to stay a while and even comes complete with large chairs for relaxed reading, open spaces for browsing and a kid's area.

The company chose Seattle for its first physical book store because it is close to Amazon's headquarters and because the city has a top market for readers.

According to the Seattle Times, the shelves of the new bookstore are stocked with somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 books.

It has also been reported that the shop will be including sections such as 'Award Winners', '4.5 stars and above' and books directed at specific age ranges.

The vice president of Amazon Books, Jennifer Cast, said: "It's data with heart, we're taking the data we have and we're creating physical places with it."