Luke Pritchard, one of our commercial law experts, takes a look at Amazon’s new store concept…

Amazon recently opened its first “Amazon Go” store near its Seattle headquarters. The stores will enable customers to walk in, fill up their baskets and walk back out, without the inconvenience of having to pay at a checkout. Via a number of sensors, the store will track its customers to determine the goods they have purchased. The value of the items will be automatically deducted from the consumer’s Amazon account.

The concept is currently being tested on Amazon staff, but the store is expected to open its doors to all consumers imminently. Reports this weekend that Amazon has begun searching for high street premises in London suggest that the “test” has been a success.

Love them or loathe them, Amazon’s success can generally be attributed to customer focussed innovation. They are constantly finding ways to make it easier for the consumer to purchase from them. In an era obsessed with convenience, it sounds like a solid business plan.