Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is continuing to grow and progress, even as it is already the top online retailer in the U.S. – and now beyond. After a highly successful holiday shopping season, Amazon.com has announced a couple new items that likely will help further increase the company’s online retail dominance.
SEEKING FULFILLMENT
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) announced that its sales and customer service required a new brick-and-mortar building. The company announced this week it was building a 1-million square-foot, $200 million order fulfillment center in New Jersey that is slated to open sometime next year. The facility will prepare, pack and ship smaller items like books and DVDs to U.S. addresses. The center will provide hundreds of full-time jobs with benefits, at a pay rate about 30 percent higher than traditional retail jobs, according to a press release.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said, “Amazon’s multi-million dollar investment in this one facility alone is expected to result in the creation of hundreds of full-time jobs in addition to temporary, seasonal and construction jobs. Today’s announcement represents the strength of our successful partnership with Amazon and I want to express our sincere thanks for their continued commitment to investing in our state and bringing these job opportunities to our residents.”
“We are extremely excited to welcome Amazon to Robbinsville Township,” said Mayor Dave Fried. “We understand Amazon could have chosen anywhere in New Jersey to build its new distribution center, and we are fortunate to have the infrastructure and resources to meet their needs and consummate one of the most sought-after business partnerships in recent memory.”
“We are excited to open our first fulfillment center in New Jersey, bringing jobs and investment to Robbinsville Township,” said Mike Roth, vice president of Amazon’s North American operations. “We appreciate the support of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, New Jersey Business Action Center, and other state and local leaders who have worked with us to find this site.”
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) also had a major announcement for neighbors north of the border.
PRIME CANADA, EH?
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) also announced this week that it is expanding its Amazon Prime free two-day delivery subscription service into Canada, unveiling the $79 annual subscription service to Amazon.ca customers. The unlimited two-day shipping option has been available in the U.S. and six other countries previously, but now will be available to most of Canada.
Customers in Canada will also be able to upgrade to one-day shipping for $3.99 per item. However, while U.S. Amazon Prime customers also have access to video streaming and e-book lending services, those services will not be available in Canada – at least for now.
“We have been working on (it) over the last year and we’re very excited to launch,” said Steve Oliver, manager of Amazon.ca from the retail giant’s headquarters in Seattle. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) introduced the service just after the company opened a second order fulfillment center in Canada, with a western facility near Vancouver, British Columbia, to go with the one just west of Toronto in Ontario.
Early in Tuesday’s trading day, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) was trading at about $266.65 a share, down slightly from the open.
How do you assess the progress of Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), the company and the stock? Based on numbers posted during the 2012 holiday season, what are the prospects for Amazon.com in 2013? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.
DISCLOSURE: I have no positions in the stock mentioned above.
Please see these related AMZN articles:
Amazon Web Services May Be Bigger Than We Think
