The Associated Press reports that department store chain Kohl’s plans to open up 1,000 square foot Amazon shops in 10 of its stores, in Chicago and Los Angeles, where shoppers “will be able to buy Amazon Echos, Fire tablets and other gadgets … Customers can also ask to have an Amazon employee come to their home and install a device or suggest products to buy.”
- KC's View:
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Interesting, I think, on all sorts of levels.
One is that Amazon clearly is making strategic alliances that it believes make sense within the department store business - first with Sears, to sell Kenmore appliances, and now with Kohl’s. This all happens as it continues to open bookstores in select locations, is testing food store concepts in Seattle, and has acquired Whole Foods.
I’m a trained observer. I think there’s a pattern here.
It also is important to look at the deal from the Kohl’s side; the folks there clearly have decided where the winds are blowing, and they want to tack in that direction.
BTW … it is important to note that at the same time as the Amazon-Kohl’s deal was being reported, Bloomberg wrote that Home Depot “will sell goods online via voice commands through Google Home and the Google Express website and mobile app,” in a deal similar to one struck with Walmart last month.
Lots of wind.
