Latest news with #JamesWebster
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Amazon blasted for 'unintentional' move on Independent Bookstore Day
Amazon has been slammed by local book sellers for hosting its second annual book sale at the same time as Independent Bookstore Day's 12th celebration. Amazon's book sale began on April 23 and is set to last through to April 28, while Independent Bookstore Day on April 26 has been an annual tradition on the last Saturday in April for more than a decade. The coinciding dates have irked independent sellers, who have described the move as 'cruel.' 'It's cynical, manipulative, and cruel - and for what? Amazon has already put half the bookstores in the country out of business, controlling over 60 percent of the market and selling far more books than all indie bookstores combined,' Andy Hunter, founder of said. Independent Bookstore Day is organized by the American Booksellers Association and considered the one of the biggest days of the year for local booksellers. Amazon, which announced the book sale on April 15, claimed in a statement to Vulture that the 'overlap was unintentional.' 'The dates for our sale were set this year to accommodate additional participating countries,' the statement said. Amazon did not immediately respond to request for comment. The coinciding dates have irked independent sellers, who have described the move as 'cruel.' 'It's cynical, manipulative, and cruel - and for what? Amazon has already put half the bookstores in the country out of business...' said Andy Hunter However, many indie book sellers believe that the move had far more sinister intentions. James Webster, who is opening Recluse Books in Texas with his wife, told Vulture: 'I'm sure if you were to reach out to Marlboro, they would tell you that it's just a coincidence that the heaviest cigarette smokers get cancer.' 'At best it's insensitive and at worst it seems like a tactic to hurt small businesses,' Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, said. Fatuma Hydara, owner of Tuma's Books in New York, told the outlet: 'Independent Bookstore Day happens the same weekend every year. There's no way their people didn't know this day was coming.' 'I don't believe that it's true at all. And if it is true, that's really silly of them, and they're not nearly as impressive as they think.' Kelsey Black of the Book Burrow near Austin, Texas, said: 'I just rolled my eyes and thought, "Of course they did." We can't even have one day where it's just us - Amazon has to swoop in.' The overlap of events comes at a cost for the independent bookstores, considering Amazon's size and ability to sell books with over a 50 percent markdown. Many stores across the US celebrated the event, nonetheless, including treasure hunts for prizes, cupcakes, pop up stores, and deals and sales throughout the day. Kelly Jo in Illinois wrote on Facebook: 'Tomorrow is Independent Bookstore Day. And shocker - Amazon's "big annual book sale" magically lands on the same weekend. It's not a coincidence. It's a strategy.' 'This isn't about books. It's about every local shop, salon, café, and small business fighting to survive while giants rig the game.' Another book enthusiast, Briana Lindquist, wrote: 'This year, Amazon decided to hold a big sale that overlaps with Independent Bookstore Day. Help me keep my favorite places alive by stopping in a bookstore today instead of placing an order online!' Maura Cheeks of Liz's Book Bar in Brooklyn, NYC, however, said she was hopeful that customers would choose to support the local stores. 'My feeling is that it's up to us as consumers and American citizens to make the choice about where to spend our money. It's that simple,' she said. Leah Koch, owner of the Ripped Bodice, said: 'We can never compete with Amazon on the price of books and speed of shipping because we don't employ a private army, and we know that.' 'So, Amazon is not out competitor. Our goal is to provide an experience that you cannot get on Amazon.' 'F*** Bezos. May he be very miserable living alone on the moon,' Koch added.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gen Z are turning to the taste of this quintessential British favourite
Younger generations are swapping trendy choice for more humble rival, new research finds Gen Z are ditching elaborate barista-style coffee and opting for a simple cuppa instead, new research has found. Last year saw coffee overtake tea as the UK's preferred drink, with 63% of consumers saying they opted for beans over brew. But a poll of Amazon workers aged under 28 has revealed over half (52%) would prefer tea to a latte, flat white or cappuccino. And while 13% said coffee was too expensive, the most popular reason was 'tea just tastes better' (22%). It comes as tea has enjoyed a recent surge of popularity amongst 18-24s, thanks in part to a renewed presence on social media. Last month a TikTok prank joking to Americans about the existence of a fake daily 'tea alarm' telling Brits when to put the kettle on, sparked more than 600,000 posts and 18 million posts on Instagram. Younger generations are also embracing the drink for health reasons with 55% saying tea helps them feel 'calm and centred.' And a quarter (25%) said they chose not to drink coffee because it was bad for them, and made them feel 'jittery and anxious'. The survey was part of Amazon's Chatterbox series, which shines a light on the personalities of its employees and acts as a barometer of UK opinions. The survey, which was released alongside a video debating the topic, also pointed to a rise in the popularity of herbal teas - with 16% of Gen Z naming them as their preference. James Webster, 23, who works at Amazon's Fulfilment Centre in Coalville said: "I've never really been a coffee drinker. Tea's always felt like a proper home comfort - no matter what kind of day you're having, a good cuppa just makes everything better. I imagine coffee would just leave me feeling wired. "Plus, it's just so much cheaper and easier to get a round of teas in than an elaborate coffee round with 13 triple shot oat milk macchiato extremes with a shot of vanilla, or whatever people are drinking these days.' With a workforce of around 75,000 across the UK, Amazon is perfectly placed to explore the topics that matter most. Oxford Mathematician and Countdown star Dr Tom Crawford said: 'The data obtained in the Amazon survey is a fascinating insight into the make-up of modern-day Britain.'
