Amazon wants you to celebrate its birthday by shopping
Amazon is celebrating its 20th anniversary on July 15 with an event it’s calling Prime Day — a one-day sale aimed at members of its Amazon Prime. More than offering deep discounts for one day, the event is another way the retailer hopes to grow the number of people willing to pay for its services, as well as shop.
It may be hard to believe Amazon is 20. Nelson Granados, who teaches information systems at Pepperdine University’s business school, says that’s probably because the company has reinvented itself so many times.
“They always seem to be like a new company, wherever they go or whatever new venture they get into,” he says.
The company’s growth from its start as an online bookseller has been dramatic, said Christo Wilson, who teaches computer science at Northeastern University. Wilson says the company revolutionized computer services beyond retail.
“They basically invented cloud computing,” he says.
It might seem ironic that the company is marking its birthday with deep discounts aimed at members of Amazon Prime, who for $99 already get free shipping and other price perks. But consider what Prime has done for Amazon, Wilson says: “It’s certainly become the greatest loyalty program in the history of consumer spending.”
Prime Day might bring in new members — to take advantage, you have to sign up.
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