Book Depository, UK-based online shop, to be closed by Amazon

(image credit: bbc.com)

Book Depository, a UK-based online store for books, is set to shut down after nearly 20 years of operation. Its parent company, Amazon, announced plans to restructure its global businesses and cut thousands of jobs, including those in the book-selling operation. Book Depository informed its customers that it will cease its operations on April 26, 2023. The company's website added that customers can continue to place orders until midday UK time on the last day of trading. The news was met with sadness by many of the company's customers worldwide.

Book Depository was founded by Andrew Crawford, a former Amazon employee, and his business partner Stuart Felton in 2004. The global online book retailer has offices in several countries, including the UK, Australia, Spain, and South Africa, and fulfillment centres in the UK and Australia. Amazon acquired the company in 2011. The announcement of the closure of Book Depository was met with sadness by many of its customers, including bestselling authors.

(image credit: BBC news)

Amazon has been cutting thousands of jobs this year as part of its cost-saving measures. The company has also made changes to its book business, such as stopping the sale of magazines and newspaper subscriptions on its e-book device, Kindle. In a blog post in January, Amazon's CEO, Andy Jassy, announced that the company would cut over 18,000 roles across its businesses. The book-selling operation was one of the areas affected by the job losses.

Amazon's sales boomed during the pandemic as customers were forced to stay at home, but sales have slowed down recently due to the cost of living crisis. Other companies, such as Google and Meta, have also been implementing cost-cutting measures while trying to remain competitive. The closure of Book Depository is another blow to the global book-selling industry, which has been facing challenges from e-books and digital reading platforms.