Not content with trying to dominate online shopping,
Amazon is attempting to own the retail sector through convenience. Last month, the company opened its first
Amazon Go store, with the headline feature being no checkouts. Now it is thought a further six Amazon Go stores are planned to open this year.
As Recode reports, people familiar with Amazon's plans believe that a six more Amazon Go locations are in the works. All of them would stay close to Amazon's main base of operations in Seattle, but stores in Los Angeles are also being considered. In particular, it is thought Amazon is in contact with developer Rick Caruso about adding a Go store to the 600,000 square-foot shopping and entertainment complex called The Grove.
For now, Amazon isn't commenting, but it would come as little surprise to see more Amazon Go stores start to appear following the successful first opening in January. It also makes sense that Amazon would keep the first batch of new stores close to each other as this is still an experiment that requires a lot of logistics behind the scenes. What Amazon wants to avoid is any big mistakes that the media can jump on.
The main draw of Amazon Go for consumers, beyond the novelty, is the convenience offered by not having to wait to pay. You simply pick up what you want and leave the store, with the payment happening automatically. And the more people use the system, the better it will get. At least, that's the theory.
Meanwhile, Amazon is attempting to make that other retail interest it owns a more desirable destination for Prime members. The latest benefit being Prime Rewards Visa card holders now get 5 percent back on Whole Foods purchases.