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Book Depository

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The Book Depository Ltd.
The Book Depository
Type of businessSubsidiary
Type of site
E-commerce
Available inEnglish
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Dissolved26 April 2023; 15 months ago (2023-04-26)
HeadquartersLondon, UK
Area servedWorldwide
IndustryBookselling, Online shopping
ProductsBooks
Revenue£69 million (2010)[1]
Employees150[citation needed]
ParentAmazon (2011–2023)
URLbookdepository.com
Launched2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Logo until 2016

Book Depository (previously The Book Depository) was a Gloucester, United Kingdom based online book seller. Founded by a former Amazon employee, it operated from 2004 to 2023.

History

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The company was founded in 2004 by Andrew Crawford (former Amazon employee) and Stuart Felton. Its motto was to make "All Books Available to All"[2] by improving selection, access and affordability.[2]

It was acquired by Amazon on 4 July 2011.[3][1] The move led commentators to worry about the 'strangle hold' of Amazon on the UK book market.[4]

On 5 April 2023, Amazon announced that it would be closing down Book Depository on 26 April 2023.[5]

Service

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The company had a large catalogue with a 'less of more' philosophy.[4] It offered free shipping to over 160 countries.[6]

Awards

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In 2009 and 2010, it won Direct Bookselling Company of the Year at the Bookseller Industry Awards,[7] and the Queen's Award For Enterprise.[citation needed]

In 2012, Book Depository was a finalist for the Fast Growth Business Awards' Retail/Leisure Business of the Year award, and won two UK Startup Awards, Online Business of the Year and Retailer of the Year.[8]

In 2013, it was ranked 5th in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Wood, Zoe (5 July 2011). "Booksellers fear 'stranglehold' as Amazon snaps up British rival The Book Depository". London: The Guardian.
  2. ^ a b "Book Depository: Free delivery worldwide on over 20 million books". www.bookdepository.com.
  3. ^ "How does the Amazon acquisition affect The Book Depository customers?", Help, The Book Depository.
  4. ^ a b Knight, Lucy (4 April 2023). "Amazon to close Book Depository online shop". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  5. ^ Miller, Monica (5 April 2023). "Amazon closing UK-based online shop Book Depository". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Which countries do you deliver to?", Help, The Book depository.
  7. ^ "Bookseller Award". Events force.
  8. ^ "Start-up Award". UK: Startups.
  9. ^ "Bookdepository". 100 List. UK: Fast Track. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012.
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