The closure of the Book Depository, an online bookseller based in Gloucester, UK, is set to take place at the end of April, according to reports from vendors and publishing partners. The news comes after Amazon, the parent company of the bookseller, announced it would be eliminating a number of positions across its Devices and Books businesses.
The closure of the Book Depository, an online bookseller based in Gloucester, UK, is set to take place at the end of April, according to reports from vendors and publishing partners. The news comes after Amazon, the parent company of the bookseller, announced it would be eliminating a number of positions across its Devices and Books businesses.
The Book Depository was founded in 2004 by Stuart Felton and Andrew Crawford, a former Amazon employee, with the goal of providing customers with a wide variety of titles, rather than just bestsellers. It was acquired by Amazon in 2011, sparking concerns from some in the publishing industry about the retail giant’s “stranglehold” on the UK book trade.
The closure of the Book Depository is the latest in a series of changes to the UK book trade, with Amazon’s acquisition of Waterstones in 2018 and the closure of Foyles’ flagship store in London in 2020. The changes have been met with criticism from some in the industry, who argue that Amazon’s dominance of the market is stifling competition and leading to a lack of diversity in the books available to customers.
However, Amazon has defended its actions, arguing that its acquisitions have allowed it to provide customers with a wider range of books and better prices. In a statement, Amazon said: “We are committed to providing customers with the best selection of books and the best prices. We believe that our acquisitions of Waterstones and the Book Depository have enabled us to do this.”
The closure of the Book Depository is expected to have a significant impact on the UK book trade, with the loss of jobs and the potential for further consolidation of the market. It remains to be seen how the closure will affect the industry in the long term.
Sources:
BBC News. (2021, April 4). Amazon to close Book Depository online shop at end of April. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56645862
The Guardian. (2021, April 4
Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/04/amazon-to-close-book-depository-online-shop
