Amazon Go stores started in the ground floor of an Amazon office building. The company is trying other retail experiments, like a drive-up grocery store, in Seattle, where executives can watch the experiments up close.
Amazon, like Starbucks, uses its hometown of Seattle to test its physical stores. "The company is putting its stamp on the city by using it as a lab for its expanding array of unconventional experiments in brick-and-mortar retail," reports Nick Wingfield in the New York Times.
The proximity of Seattle's experiments allows for quick feedback for the company, which can use the information to hone ideas before taking them national. Wingfield uses Amazon Fresh (the company's grocery business) as an example of a service that was first only available in Seattle, while the company could worked out some of the kinks in the operation. During its initial experiments with the service, the company was able to identify some of the key brands and items which were must haves for their customers, important insight for a company moving into a new category.
Currently, the company is experimenting with a number of concepts, including a grocery store where shoppers simply drive through to pick up groceries they ordered in advance online, a "treasure truck," which contains an assortment of items that might include fish steaks or videogame consoles, and an Amazon Go store, where customers pay for items in store on their phones.
FULL STORY: Amazon Living Lab: Reimagining Retail on Seattle's Streets
How Amazon Is Expanding Brick and Mortar Presence
Is retail dead? Amazon doesn't think so, and has been slowly growing a fleet of physical stores that look quite a bit different from their traditional retail counterparts.
Ross May Be Immune from the Amazon Effect
Ross Stores continues its expansion in the face of a much-foretold retail apocalypse. The shopping experience it provides may be one reason it can stand up to Amazon.
Amazon to House Homeless in Seattle Headquarters
Headquarters campus of Amazon will include housing for homeless who would have been displaced by the company’s purchase of the hotel that included their shelter.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)