Advertisement
Books

Tim Waterstone: ‘Even I buy books on Amazon’

The founder of the high street giant says bookselling is in a good place but music retail will not survive

Bookselling titan Tim Waterstone has said the future of the industry is bright, while admitting even he shops on Amazon – the online retail giant often blamed for the demise in high street bookstores.

But music retail is “completely doomed”, he told The Big Issue this week.

Waterstone, who founded the high street bookseller in London in 1982, said of Amazon: “We have exactly the same market share now. We’re the two dominant brands. But here’s the thing, I believe the nature of book buying, online and in person, are completely different. If you know what you want, you’re going to go to Amazon. I do it myself numerous times a year!”

The lifelong book-lover said buying online could never replicate the experience of browsing in a store, saying 70 per cent of sales in Waterstones are impulse purchases.

“Even when people had come in to buy a book, they’d left with five more they hadn’t intended on buying when they came in,” he said.

Waterstone was promoting his new memoir, The Face Pressed Against A Window, which tells the story of how he went from growing up in a home with only three books to founding Europe’s largest bookseller.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

SIGN THE PETITION

It's our call to Keir Starmer to pass a law to end poverty.
big issue vendor holding up a 'we need a poverty zero law' sign

Recommended for you

Read All
Stone & Sky by Ben Aaronovitch review – weird happenings in the Granite City
Books

Stone & Sky by Ben Aaronovitch review – weird happenings in the Granite City

The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney review – an emotionally gripping psychological thriller
Books

The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney review – an emotionally gripping psychological thriller

The best books to read in summer 2025
Summer books

The best books to read in summer 2025

Women were a huge part of the Gold Rush. Why do we never hear about them?
Women

Women were a huge part of the Gold Rush. Why do we never hear about them?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue