Amazon launches Amazon Storefronts

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Sep 17, 2018

Amazon announced on Monday the opening of Amazon Storefronts, an e-shop that allows customers to shop small and medium-sized American businesses selling on the e-commerce platform.

Storefronts' over 25 product categories include beauty and grooming, jewelry, travel and home, and feature products from nearly 20,000 U.S. businesses. 

Visitors can use an explore feature to search business types, including "family-focused," "artisans," and "women-owned businesses." Each week, the e-store will spotlight select businesses with introductory videos in an effort to expose customers to new products. 

“We’ve created a custom, one-stop shopping experience for customers looking for interesting, innovative and high quality products from American businesses from all across the country,” said Nicholas Denissen, vice president for Amazon, in a release. “Today, small and medium-sized businesses are a vital part of Amazon’s large selection and commitment to customers. We’re championing their success with this new store." 

Amazon is releasing its first national TV commercial in an effort to promote the new platform, which features real businesses and entrepreneurs that sell on the e-commerce site. According to the company, Amazon has more than one million small and medium-sized American businesses selling on its site. 

Following the company's Small Business Impact Report released earlier this year, Storefronts boosts Amazon's image as a job-creator and overall boon to the American economy, an image recently called into question by U.S. senator Bernie Sanders. According to the company's report, small and medium-sized businesses selling on Amazon are estimated to have created more than 900,000 jobs worldwide.