Amazon vs. The World

When you have a #mindset of an #entrepreneur you will realize that all these "indirect distributors" are in for challenging times(and this activity in "atomic" form to go also with "bits" or "bits" to go also with "atomic" format is a sign too) if they don't change their relationship with their customers,as more and more customer realize they have #opportunity to get better #value for their hard earned money. I am excited to have lot of #brands on-board taking on e-commerce with #OmniCommerce as part of growing #BusinessNetwork ecosystem. Now as for price is concerned #DirectSelling industry leads with same price across the country (as manufacturing cost stays the same for the product bought locally or other part of country),then based on local taxes and shipping charges both of which are based on local country/province/state & shipping carrier and the PROFIT margin (which cover operational & other expenses/investments for the business to grow and innovate), And Jeff B realizes this that all I am doing is selling "bits" which as #Suppliers can now go Direct to customers (via Internet) and form a mutually rewarding relationship and as this community of customers grow other #entrepreneurs will join and offer better value to customer buying experience, he is smart and working on other endeavors like AWS and Blue Origin to keep his business growing by targeting different industries and customers.

another good post Michael! Enjoying these posts. On Amazon - they have changed the way they reach to consumers and what they give to them. The consumers are liking the newness amongst all other things. The are surely doing great. The irony is that everyone else is unfortunately busy trying to catch up with them. This will just not happen as Amazon creates new paths and therefore the followers must just have to wait to know what that it to compete. This is why Walmart is unable to retain the attention it got for all the decades and perhaps still deserves. They are into the incremental stuff and it does not help now. The huge size that Amazon has gotten into makes it hard for anyone else as a startup to come even close to it in getting consumer attention and success.. So, it has to be one of the biggies to do something different and think the problem from basics and divert consumer and amazon along their path.. That vision or leadership is missing when you keep seeing comments from the competition alluding to their ability to do better..

Amazon continues to show us how they have created sustainable value with their customer and with such heroic growth does portray a shark top of the food chain-type figure. They also have had 20 years playing the long game at 'future retail' strategies vs. the point solution or 'profit' strategy the rest of 'the world' was engaged in. Though I get a sense the war is being fought at the category and brand level - including Walmart/Jet who may not carry the same retention and loyalty as Amazon but certainly is a peer in price/fulfillment considerations. For the moment, I shop both.

although i think amazon should be applauded for what they have achieved over the years. I feel strongly in support of the hundreds of small businesses that have lost there brand and identity from selling on the platform. I currently am no working with many that have left amazon to Jin royal mail as we have given them there business back

Great article. I believe Amazon is a 3Pl and is changing the game as such. Faster delivery, more product and better service. Their marketplace is a race to the bottom for price. Take a look at keepa or camelcamelcamel.com. Track prices over time and buy when they drop. Long gone are the days where localization meant price escalation. $15 in NYC could buy $12 in Philadelphia and $10 in Pittsburgh. As far as Walmart, they need a change as their own online presence was slow to market and buying Jet was good for shareholder approval. Let's see how radical Walmart gets with Marc Lore at the helm.