The Hive Store Network, www.hive.co.uk, will give customers the benefits of local high-street retailing with the convenience of the internet, while for retailers it should drive footfall.

The site will sell a huge range of books, DVDs and CDs, with shoppers able to buy online then pick up the goods from a local store. Each participating retailer will receive a share of the net profit from sales and will also theoretically benefit from the increased footfall, as consumers visit the ...