Amazon is diving into the activewear business by producing their own sports clothing line – branding and all.
Jobs postings on Amazon’s site suggest that the electronic commerce company is expanding its business model to encompass sportswear. The move adds activewear to their existing clothing production which already includes items such as shoes and dresses. But clothing isn’t the only product the internet giant has begun production on. Amazon dabbles in manufacturing household items such as batteries, USB wires and extension cords under their AmazonBasics branding. However, Amazon isn’t stopping there.
Producing household products is one thing, but expanding into competitive electric markets is another.
Amazon is now further integrating their FIRE TV and Echo devices through the company’s new deals with big-name HD TV manufacturers. Television companies such as Westinghouse have teamed up with Amazon to integrate the electronic commerce company’s internet television services into their product’s main uses
The smart televisions yielded by this deal innovates the TV industry in the age of the internet. Competing with Netflix, Google Chrome and the like, Amazon’s TV market exploration illustrates the company’s expansion. Amazon Prime offers a variety of digital rentals and purchases for TV series, films, audiobooks, music and more.
Amazon is the world’s largest internet retail company, and they aren’t limiting themselves. With the establishment of Amazon in the household items market, Amazon’s venture into electronics and clothing manufacturing illustrates the company’s exploratory market goals. Their innovating nature seems to support their perpetually expanding business model.
But Amazon’s success hasn’t gone unquestioned.
Critics of the gigantic e-commerce company allege that Amazon has too much control. According to the critics, Amazon isn’t simply expanding their business model to better innovate the marketplace but to ensure a monopoly in it.
One such critique came from then-candidate Donald Trump. At the time of the critique, the Washington Post – owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos – was blasting Trump’s candidacy. Since the election Bezos has advised Trump on tech and economic issues.