The pandemic has been a boon for Amazon. Worldwide.
Even in places like Italy where people prefer to shop in stores, Amazon has been able to assume a dominant role during the pandemic. When stores were forced to close, Amazon filled a genuine need for goods. As the economy reopened, the appeal of convenience triggered a sudden, but durable, consumer behavior shift. Can small merchants that depend on the “old world” image rethink their operations to survive e-commerce? Based on the video, many already have.
Video Spotlight: Amazon Academy’s ‘Made in Italy’ Program
This post is based on The New York Times article, Pasta, Wine and Inflatable Pools: How Amazon Conquered Italy in the Pandemic, by A. Satariano and E. Bubola, September 26, 2020, and the YouTube video, Amazon Academy ‘Made in Italy’ – Brussels 2019, by AmazonNewsEU, December 9, 2019. Image source: Pixtal / AGE Fotostock.
Discussion Questions:
1. For Amazon, what are the threats and opportunities in Italy?
Guidance: The main opportunities are a change in consumer habits, a high unemployment rate, and a second wave of virus spread. The threats are an older population that might be more resistant to Continue reading