“I got it on Amazon!” The retail giant Amazon has become so massive and powerful that it infiltrates everyday conversations with ease. Checking the price on Amazon before making in-store purchases has become common practice, and there is a constant influx of articles and social media posts about “must-have” merchandise that can be found on the online marketplace. Just how big is Amazon? Why is Amazon so successful? Here are five Amazon facts to satisfy curiosity and help readers become more conscious shoppers:
5 Amazing Amazon Facts
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- Amazon started in founder Jeff Bezos’ garage in 1995. (source) It began as an online bookstore called Cadabra that operated from his garage in Bellevue, Washington. He eventually hired software developers – the job listing sought employees to “to help pioneer commerce on the internet.”
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- In 2021, Amazon reported over $420 billion in assets. (source) Amazon owns a vast assortment of subsidiaries such as Whole Foods, Zappos, Twitch, IMDb, and Goodreads. When you look at everything owned by Amazon as a whole, you can see how it has goods and services that fulfill practically every aspect of everyday life and beyond.
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- There are around 6,000 dogs that work at the Amazon headquarters in Seattle. (source) There is even a dog park and a special dog deck on the 17th floor! They may be taking over the world, but at least they rank among the most dog-friendly companies in the United States.
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- Amazon has around 18.5 orders per second. (source) They ship approximately 1.6 million packages daily.
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- Amazon’s warehouses could hold more water than 10,000 Olympic swimming pools. (source) That is more square footage than 700 Madison Square Gardens!
