Today at Amazon: Idea for an Amazon Store
I often stumble across products on Amazon or on websites (pointing me back to Amazon) that I never knew existed. Google "Top Kitchen Appliances", and you'll know what I mean. However, like any marketplace for contents or goods (see App Store, iTunes, YouTube), discoverability is a big challenge. While Amazon has several featured products on its homepage, I'm sure a lot of people just hit that search bar and get going.
How about Amazon has a big beautiful store, where products changed every week? The idea of this store is to provide small business owners and independent professionals a platform to showcase their products in an Amazon owned space. Much like an expo, where businesses could setup their stalls and promote their products. But, unlike an expo, this store would house featured products; every week new businesses would get an opportunity to showcase their products; it'll be a destination to discover new ideas and connect with people!
If this were a Amazon Store.... The tables would be like individual stalls for each business. And, the wall on the right where Apple sells accessories and 3rd party products, could be a place to sell Amazon products. (I'm convincing a designer to do a mock-up for an Amazon store, but until then please ignore the Apple logo up there ;P)
But does, this make business sense for Amazon? I think it does.
It strengthens our community: Perhaps much debated and often said, "businesses are not just about making money". Many small businesses don't have the know-how to market their products, or just don't have enough budget to sell beyond their local markets. This store will be a way for Amazon to provide these businesses a platform and share knowledge on how to best market their products online. It will bring creators and customers together, creating a strong sense of community.
It builds the Amazon brand: The store will be a one of its kind experience, and a way for Amazon to communicate a brand message. In times, when the sentiment is getting negative towards the internet, the store will be an example of companies like Amazon unlocks opportunities for people that previously weren't just inaccessible.
It'll increase sales: When people come to this store and buy products, Amazon gets a cut on the sales. If these products get traction online, they sell even more! And, of course people can also buy Amazon branded products at this store all the year around.
Traditional distribution channels favored large companies with abundant resources; but, Amazon unclogs the distribution bottleneck. It allows specialty coffee sourced by a coffee enthusiast in Florida, or a specialty belt designer in Ohio to reach out to millions of people without having to struggle to grab the limited shelve space.