Retail news round-up on February 3, 2016: Amazon eyes opening 400 physical bookstores and Wilko to cut premium payments for Sunday and bank holiday shifts.

Amazon mulls 400 physical bookstores

Amazon is considering opening as many as 400 physical bookshops, after setting up its first Seattle brick-and-mortar store in November.

"You've got Amazon opening brick-and-mortar bookstores and their goal is to open, as I understand, 300 to 400 bookstores," said Sandeep Mathrani, the chief executive of shopping centre operator General Growth Properties.

The online retailer has not confirmed the expansion of stores and refused to comment on speculation.

Wilko to cut working Sunday and bank holiday pay rates

Value retailer Wilko is set to reduce pay rates for staff working Sundays and bank holidays from April this year, according to This is Money.

The discount homeware retailer's 1,800-strong workforce will see the 'premiums' slashed because of the introduction of the Government's new national living wage.

Employees working night shifts would see extra pay of just £1.50 per hour.

Meanwhile, staff discounts in store would go up from 13% to 20%.

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