LONDON-October 27, 2004 – Amazon.co.uk and Borders (U.K.) Limited, leading UK bookseller and subsidiary of U.S.-based Borders Group Inc., today announced the launch of a new dedicated website (www.borders.co.uk) for Borders and Books etc. customers in the U.K., powered by Amazon's e-commerce platform.
The new Borders.co.uk store features a vast selection of books, music, DVDs and videos, as well as editorial reviews, personalisation and recommendations, 1-Click® ordering, and other unique shopping technology tools available to Amazon.co.uk's own customers. The new site also provides unique content to Borders and Books etc. customers, including store location information and store events information.
“Borders has been working successfully with Amazon.com in the U.S. for the past three years,” said Philip Downer, managing director of Borders (UK) Ltd., “and I am delighted that Borders and Books etc. customers in the UK will now be able to enjoy the same unparalleled online shopping experience as their counterparts in the US. This is our first e-commerce site in the UK, and Borders.co.uk extends the wide choice, welcoming atmosphere and high service standards customers appreciate and respond to in our stores.”
Under the multi-year agreement, Amazon.co.uk is providing Borders with an e-commerce solution of technology services, product fulfilment, site content, product selection and customer service for the co-branded “Borders and Books etc. working with Amazon.co.uk” (www.Borders.co.uk) web site, which can also be reached by logging on to www.booksetc.co.uk.
“Amazon.co.uk is committed to providing customers with the best possible online shopping experience and we are excited that Borders has chosen to work with us to help launch, power and manage its online presence in the U.K.”, said Robin Terrell, managing director for Amazon.co.uk. “In the U.S., ‘Borders teamed with Amazon.com' has provided significant convenience for customers. We look forward to working on this similar experience for Borders and Books etc. customers in the UK.”
Terms of the agreement are not disclosed.
For further information please contact:
Rachel Silk / Marie Fagan
Amazon.co.uk
Tel no: 020 8636 9280 / 07768 695759
rsilk@amazon.co.uk / mfagan@amazon.co.uk
Andrea Marks
Borders UK
Tel no: 0208 958 4398
andrea@andreamarks.co.uk
Editors note
In the US, “Borders teamed with Amazon.com” launched in August 2001. The agreement was expanded in April 2002 to include “Waldenbooks teamed with Amazon.com” (launched in October 2002) and “Express In-Store Pick Up” at Borders stores (launched in November 2002). Combining the ease and efficiency of online shopping with the convenience of same-day pick up, In-Store Pick Up is available to Borders and Amazon.com customers. In November 2003, Amazon.com and Borders Group announced a multi-year extension of their e-commerce agreement. Sales transacted through the co-branded Web sites for the 12 months ended September 2003 were more than 50 percent greater than Borders e-commerce sales for the fiscal year ended January 2001.
About Borders UK
Borders (UK) Ltd. was established in early 1998 and is now one of the country's leading booksellers, with over 8% of the retail bookselling market through its Borders and Books etc. brands. The Borders combination of a comprehensive selection of books, music, movies, and periodicals, plus Starbucks, Paperchase, a packed events programme and long opening hours, offers a unique and refreshing shopping experience. Books etc. offers the widest range and choice of quality reading at the best prices in its bookstores and is also the UK's leading operator of specialist airport bookshops. Borders UK currently operates 24 superstores in city centres and retail parks around the UK, plus 37 specialist bookshops in high street, mall and airport locations. A dozen new stores are currently in development and by the end of 2005 the company's retail footprint will have expanded to one million square feet.
About Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk opened its virtual doors in October 1998, and strives to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.co.uk and sellers list millions of new and used items in categories such as Books, Music, Video, DVD, Software, PC & Video Games, Electronics & Photo, Home & Garden, and Toys & Kids!. Through Amazon Marketplace, zShops and Auctions any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.co.uk's millions of customers. Amazon.co.uk customers enjoy the benefits of industry-leading online-shopping technology, such as secure credit-card payment, personalised recommendations, streamlined, 1-Click® ordering and hassle-free Bid-Click® auction bidding. Through Amazon Anywhere, Amazon.co.uk is also available on mobile phones with WAP technology--see www.amazon.co.uk/anywhere for details.
Amazon.com and its affiliates operate seven Web sites: www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.ca, and www.joyo.com.
As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Forward Looking Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to potential future losses, significant amount of indebtedness, competition, management of growth, potential fluctuations in operating results, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions, and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, international expansion, consumer trends, inventory, limited operating history, government regulation and taxation, fraud, and new business areas. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and all subsequent filings.
About Borders Group
Borders Group (NYSE:BGP) is a leading global retailer of books, music and movies. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., the company employs 32,000 people worldwide and operates over 430 Borders domestic superstores; 36 international Borders stores located primarily in the U.K. and the Pacific Rim; 36 Books etc. stores throughout Great Britain; and approximately 755 Waldenbooks stores in malls across America. More detailed information on the company is available at www.bordersgroupinc.com. Information on Borders stores title selection, events and locations is available through www.bordersstores.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation and Reform Act of 1995. One can identify these forward-looking statements by use of words such as "may," "will," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," and other words of similar meaning. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and plans to differ materially from those included in the company's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include future benefits and future results from this alliance. More information about factors that potentially could affect Borders Group's results is included in Borders Group's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 27, 2003 and all subsequent annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.