Amazon - one of the world's most valuable companies - is worth more than Walmart, Netflix, Target, Nike and Costco combined. What are the secrets to its success? How can these insights be applied to other businesses in the e-commerce sector?
The retail industry is facing unprecedented challenges. Across all sectors and markets, retailers are shifting their business models and customer engagement strategies to ensure they survive. Amazon offers unique insight into the company's persistent dissatisfaction with the status quo and innovation and how it has fundamentally changed the ways in which we shop.
This fully updated second edition explores Amazon's response to the coronavirus pandemic, the convergence of physical and digital retail, e-commerce economics and sustainability, as well as future policy implications. Written by industry-leading retail analysts and with the first edition now translated into more than a dozen languages, Amazon is an invaluable resource for discovering the lessons that can be learned from the company's unprecedented rise to dominance.
About the Authors
Natalie Berg is a retail analyst and Founder of NBK Retail, a consultancy specializing in retail strategy and future trends. Based in London, UK, she was formerly the Global Research Director at Planet Retail, and is a regular conference speaker and media commentator whose views on retail have been published in the FT, Forbes, BBC and The Times.
Miya Knights is Global Content Strategist at poq Commerce, with 25 years' experience as an analyst, journalist and editor specializing in retail enterprise technology use. Based in Sussex, she is the owner and publisher of Retail Technology magazine and has appeared on the BBC, Channel 4 and Euronews and commented in The Telegraph, The Times and The Financial Times among others, as well as regularly speaking at or moderating industry events. She has also been recognized as the 2021 Arts & Media Senior Leader by the Black British Business Awards.
Industry Reviews
"Berg and Knights deliver surgical insights on Amazon's progress and impact during the global pandemic while curating an updated end-to-end landscape view of the industries affected by the Amazon. The second edition of Amazon is the go-to primer for those wanting to learn about Amazon." * Anh Nguyen Lue, North America Open Innovation and eCom Category Management Leader, P&G *
"How will retailers respond to this new and emerging threat posed by Amazon? There remain only three options; compete, concede or collaborate." * Ruth Harrison, Global Head of industry Domains, Thought works and former GM, Selfridges *
"Berg and Knights keep us up to date with what is hot in the Amazon ecosystem today. Whilst many retailers claim to be customer-centric, the disjointed nature of their businesses allows Amazon to continue to forge ahead. This book is essential reading for anyone who believes in Amazon as a competitor. Read it and learn from it." * Clive Humby OBE, Co-founder of dunnhumby and Chief Architect of Tesco's Clubcard *
"By far the best business book I have ever read!!! It is so filled with fascinating relevant facts, so up to date, so comprehensive, zero fluff or filler. Everyone in business should read this." * Michelle Greenwald, Professor of Digital Marketing, Columbia University and CEO, Catalyzing Innovation *
"If you believe in the philosophy of knowing your enemy then Amazon is a must-read for any omnichannel retailer." * Tim Mason, CEO, Eagle Eye Solutions *
"As well as being a comprehensive and authoritative insight on how the Amazon model relentlessly evolved to create more Amazon, it's also a must-read insight into the future of Shopping and how Retail must adapt to stay relevant to the on my terms customer." * Robin Phillips, CEO, The Watch Shop *
"Berg and Knights thoughtfully and thoroughly dissect all of Amazon's consumer and competitive competencies. Berg and Knights' analysis dives deep into Amazon's business strategies and provides ample advice on what competitors need to do to thrive alongside Amazon." * Sucharita Kodali, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Forrester Research *
"In this book, Berg and Knights comprehensively and accessibly unpack Amazon's multi-layered strategy - with a perspective that understands them as a technology company but is rooted in the authors' deep knowledge of the retail space. Essential reading for anyone trying to understand retail's Amazon-centric future." * Bryan Gildenberg, SVP, Commerce at Omnicom Commerce Group *
"Natalie Berg and Miya Knights have written one of the definitive accounts of the rise of Amazon and its dramatic impact on the world of retail. There are valuable lessons in this book for investors and retailers, especially for companies looking to excel at WACD: What Amazon Can't Do. I highly recommend this book." * Mark S. Mahaney, Senior Managing Director, Evercore ISI *