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Do you prefer to shop in brick-and-mortar stores where you can see and feel what you’re going to buy? Or do you prefer to shop online where you can read reviews and compare prices easily? Amazon may be bringing you the best of both worlds very soon.
Last week The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon will be opening its first brick-and-mortar store in New York City just in time for the 2014 holiday season. The Amazon store, located at 7 W. 34th Street across from the Empire State Building, will be “meant primarily to be a place for customers to pick up orders they’ve made online, but will also serve as a distribution center for couriers and likely one day will feature Amazon devices like Kindle e-readers, Fire smartphones and Fire TV set-top boxes, according to people familiar with the company’s thinking,” according to the article.
See, The Wall Street Journal, Amazon to Open First Brick-and-Mortar Site.
Having a local store may offer delivery options for those who want to order online from Amazon but can’t have their packages delivered to their home or office. Returns of unwanted packages may become easier too. Amazon currently offers pick up and returns of packages at lockers in public places such as convenience stores and parking garages in certain locations in the US, but the company doesn’t offer a shipping discount for returns to its lockers.
The New York store may be a way for customers to see and try out Amazon’s products such as the Fire phone, Kindle Fire tablets and Paperwhite ereaders. Customers could see demonstrations of features such as Dynamic Perspective on the Fire phone and the Mayday button on the Kindle Fire HDX, Fire Phone and Fire TV.
Initially the New York store won’t be “The Everything Store,” it won’t have much inventory and certainly not the entire selection of Amazon’s offerings.
This news is the latest in a series of surprising moves that have expanded the scope of Amazon from being “Earth’s Biggest Bookstore” to becoming “The Everything Store.” With Amazon we have learned to “expect the unexpected.” Last year, Amazon announced that drone deliveries may begin in 2015. See, Amazon Prime Air Drone Delivery: Cool, Convenient or Creepy? [Poll]
Amazon has grown so broadly and so quickly that it’s easy for us to forget how far the company has come in such a short time. Check out this infographic for an illustrative reminder of Amazon’s history:
Would you shop at an Amazon store? Would you prefer shopping at an Amazon store or online? Vote in today’s poll and let us know:
Other Amazon News
Amazon just announced that beginning today Prime members will be getting early access to Lightning Deals during the holiday season. From Amazon, “Prime members will receive 30-minutes early access to select Lightning Deals on Amazon.com and daily sales events on MyHabit.com. By taking advantage of this early access, members can find great deals on gifts and holiday essentials all season long. Customers can find all of today’s deals at Amazon.com/Deals and MyHabit.com.”
Your Thoughts
Are you excited about the idea of an Amazon store? Do you hope an Amazon store opens in your area? Will you still shop online? Which products would you like to see at an Amazon store? Let us know in the Comments section below!
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LEGO
If you’re a fan of LEGO building blocks, construction vehicles and/or cool tech, check out this video about the development of a remote-controlled LEGO wheel-loader. Working with Volvo, the designers at LEGO replicated the L350F model wheel loader that you can build in the new Technics kit.
“We tried to make it as realistic as possible, so it drives, steers and lifts the load just like the real thing. “You can also remove the oil filters, the radiator-door swings out, pistons move and the engine is painted green, just like in the real thing,” said LEGO’s head of marketing and design manager Jeppe Juul Jensen.
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* Top Amazon image (edited) courtesy of Simon via Pixabay and Creative Commons
** Second Amazon image courtesy of Robert Scoble via Flickr and Creative Commons
Wow! What a success story. It would be interesting to know more about Jeff Bezos and his life. He seems to be a sharing kind of individual, at least thats what his salary indicates, but I suppose he must have huge shares in the company as well.
I remember the Amazon book store! It has come a long way from there.
I am beginning to wonder about a typical Amazon worker, what his work ethics are and also his/her life goals.
There was another much loved Lady – Mary K, who changed the lives of people she worded with.
Her book ” Jesus CEO” was and is a master piece. I am sure most have read it.
Congratulations to Amazon on its growth &
Thank you Carolyn for this amazingly detailed article.
Dr. Nicolas Rao
Hi Nick, Yes, the story of Amazon is a true American success story that has happened in a very short time. While not every expansion has been successful for Amazon, it keeps trying new ventures to find new hits.
You would enjoy reading The Everything Store which will tell you even more about Amazon and Jeff Bezos: http://www.amazon.com/The-Everything-Store-Bezos-Amazon-ebook/dp/B00BWQW73E
While the physical Amazon store won’t start out as The Everything Store, the website didn’t either. Who knows where Amazon will head next?
Thank you Carolyn.
I just read the free review- a couple of pages. Liked the intro, it moved fast and was very interesting. The first chapter was pretty absorbing too and an education for me.
I am a life sciences man, and like many men from that field of biomechanics and discovery, my knowledge of commerce is woefully inadequate.
However, it is not beyond my comprehension, a tough read in some places, figuring out Wall street procedures and the like.
On the other hand being an administrator all my adult life, the minds of people like Mr. Bezos is fascinating.
I was wondering in my last comment if he was life Mary K. He is not, that is clear.
Thank you for letting me taste a mind tickling book.
I will have the whole meal slowly.
Nick.
I’m glad you checked out The Everything Store and I hope you enjoy it if you decide to read the book!
Hi Carolyn!
That’s good for Amazon, although, I really enjoy the comforts of shopping online so them having an actual store, doesn’t change anything for me. I can’t wait for the ability to order groceries online! 😉
Thanks for sharing this!
B
Hi Bren Lee, Yes, shopping online can be very convenient though there are times when you want to be able to see and feel items in person.
I wonder if the New York store is successful whether we might see Amazon stores on every corner?
Hi Carolyn,
I loved the Idea of having an amazon store as it will let people know and test the product themselves. Also, more people will surely prefer to buy online as people are more comfortable to shop easily and get things done. And they get to see more products with offers that are transparent to them as well.
Hi Aditya, Good point. We might be more likely to do impulse shopping if the items are right there in front of us, instead of Amazon suggesting them online. This new store could be a very interesting new way to shop with Amazon!
Hey Carolyn,
I had heard a store was coming but I knew it wasn’t going to be anywhere near me! I do like to see some things in person first before purchasing because I hate the anticipation of waiting for it and then it not being what I want and then having to send it back. That’s just a royal pain to me but the problem is that you can really save a lot of money buying most things online.
So for the most part, what I do buy online I’m fine with and it’s nothing big. For the bigger items, I’ll hit the store over the online purchases unless I can get it for less online and pick it up at the store.
Decisions decisions! LOL!!!
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, You’re right, an Amazon store might make us more likely to purchase items because returning them wouldn’t be a big deal. We often hesitate to buy something online that would be difficult and/or expensive to return.
I do wonder if Amazon is successful with its New York store whether we will see stores around the country. Imagine if they were more Amazon stores than Starbucks!