Amazon's First Public Sale: A Milestone in the Company's Journey to Becoming a Global Giant.

Amazon made its first public sale 30 years ago on July 16, 1995. The company expanded rapidly into one of the world's biggest companies.

Amazon's Prime Day, an annual event celebrating Prime membership, has become a significant milestone in the company's history. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Prime Day, which began in 2015 and has since grown into one of the largest shopping events globally. This article examines the evolution of Prime Day, its impact on sales, and its role in supporting small businesses.

Prime Day was first introduced on July 15, 2015, to celebrate Amazon's 20th birthday. The event offered exclusive deals to Prime members, surpassing the number of items sold on Black Friday 2014. In 2015, 34.4 million items were ordered across nine countries, with 398 items per second [1].

In subsequent years, Prime Day has expanded both in duration and geographical reach. In 2016, the event was extended to 10 countries and saw a 60% increase in sales globally. The number of toys and shoes purchased reached two million and one million, respectively. Additionally, Amazon devices saw record sales, with the Echo Dot becoming a popular purchase [1].

Prime Day 2017 marked the first time the event lasted 30 hours, allowing members more time to shop. This year also saw the addition of Mexico and China to the participating countries. The Echo Dot remained the top-selling item, and the Amazon Shopping App saw a significant increase in usage [1].

In 2018, Prime Day was extended to 36 hours and saw record-breaking sales, with over 100 million items purchased. The Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote and Echo Dot were the best-selling devices. Small and medium-sized businesses also saw substantial sales, exceeding $1.5 billion [1].

Prime Day 2019 was the largest shopping event in Amazon history, running for 48 hours and surpassing the combined sales of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Over 175 million items were sold, with the Echo Dot, Fire TV Stick, and Fire TV Stick 4K leading the way. Prime Day 2020, held in October due to the pandemic, saw significant support for small businesses, with sales surpassing $3.5 billion [1].

The 2021 Prime Day event delivered over 2 million deals and saw Prime members purchase more than 250 million items worldwide. The Fire TV Stick 4K Ultra HD with Alexa Voice Remote was the most popular item purchased, and the event saw a 100% increase in sales for small businesses compared to the previous year [1].

Prime Day 2022, held in July, was the biggest event in Amazon's history, with over 300 million items purchased and Prime members saving over $1.7 billion. The event also saw significant growth for independent sellers, most of whom are small and medium-sized businesses [1].

In conclusion, Amazon's Prime Day has evolved from a single-day event to a global shopping extravaganza. Over the past decade, Prime Day has not only driven significant sales but also supported small businesses, making it a critical event for Amazon's ecosystem. As Amazon continues to innovate and expand, Prime Day is poised to remain a pivotal event in the company's growth story.

References:
[1] https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/amazon-prime/the-history-of-prime-day-uk