retail therapy
Ex-Walmart CEO doesn’t like Amazon.
This week in irony, former Walmart CEO Bill Simon complains that Amazon’s prices are too low, putting retailers out of business! Oy vey. | learn more
Tag: amazon
tech, startups, internet
How Amazon’s startup fund bets on Alexa.
“Enter the Alexa Fund. Born with a $100 million investment from Amazon in 2015, the year after the debut of the Echo, the fund is part of the company’s effort to identify more Alexa-showcasing companies and products around the world.” |learn […]
retail therapy
Supreme Court to decide on online sales tax.
“Internet Retailer asked retailers and consumers how they think a ruling—expected by the end of June after arguments this spring—will impact them.” Notably, this isn’t impactful for Amazon because they already collect sales tax everywhere. It’s also inevitable, in my […]
big ideas
Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway & JPMorgan’s new healthcare business.
It was hard to miss this news this week. As usual, Stratechery offers a very interesting analysis of the plan, and how it can come together over the long-term to change healthcare for the better. | learn more
retail therapy
On the Whole Foods shortages.
I’ve heard speculation about Amazon’s influence being the source of the recent stock-outs. This convincing article instead lays the blame on a new inventory efficiency campaign that’s working well – maybe too well. | learn more
tech, startups, internet
Why Amazon has no profits (and why it works).
This article by Benedict Evans of Andreessen Horowitz is a few years old, but I found myself re-reading it recently. | learn more
tech, startups, internet
The Echo Dot was the best-selling product on Amazon this holiday season.
Until very recently, anything voice-enabled tended to suck. When I first plugged in my Echo earlier this year, it sucked a lot less. I realized this is the start of a shift in how we interact with our homes and […]
retail therapy
The future of retail in the age of Amazon.
Retailers trying to compete the old away against Amazon are asking for trouble. Obviously, they need to find an edge in some other way. I expected to skim this article and archive it forever, but ended up reading it in […]
retail therapy
Amazon marketplace seller scammed by rival, lost $400k.
An unscrupulous competitor ripped off his product & marketing materials, impersonated him, and solicited 30 1-star reviews for his product. Worst of all, it looks like he’s escaping consequence-free. | learn more
retail therapy
Amazon is funding markdowns on marketplace.
In a new tactic, Amazon is discounting some products below prices that marketplace sellers set. They’re funding the difference themselves. Why? One reason – brick & mortar competitors won’t price match marketplace sellers. This means you can’t buy these products […]