Why Is Amazon Called Amazon?
If you‘ve ever ordered a package from Amazon, you‘ve probably noticed the smiling arrow in the logo and the name splashed across the box. But have you ever wondered why this ecommerce giant is named Amazon?
As an experienced Amazon seller and ecommerce consultant since 2015, I‘ve done extensive research into the company‘s origins. In this in-depth guide, I‘ll share little-known details about how and why Amazon got its name and grew into the behemoth it is today.
Why Jeff Bezos Chose the Name Amazon
Amazon is named after the world‘s largest river, the Amazon. But founder Jeff Bezos didn‘t just pull this distinctive name out of a hat.
He picked Amazon for three key reasons:
Wanted an "A" name: Bezos wanted a brand name that started with "A" so Amazon would appear at the top of alphabetical lists. This was in the pre-Google era when directory listings mattered.
It represented something vast: Calling his bookstore Amazon evoked something much bigger and more expansive, just as he planned for the actual book inventory.
The exotic locale: The Amazon conjured remote, hard-to-reach locales, fitting with Bezos‘ vision to offer the widest book selection like no other store.
Bezos has said the magnitude and remoteness of the Amazon river were his main inspirations. But the name also suggests the fierce female warriors of Greek mythology, foreshadowing Amazon‘s aggressive competitive strategies.
So while Bezos just needed an "A" word, Amazon proved incredibly fitting for his ambitious startup.
Fun fact: To check availability, Bezos initially registered Relentless.com before acquiring Amazon.com in 1994. Relentless perfectly suits his intense personality which drove Amazon‘s success.
Amazon‘s Original Name Was Cadabra
It‘s tough to imagine Amazon as anything but Amazon today. But originally, Jeff Bezos wanted to name his online bookstore Cadabra.
Bezos picked Cadabra as a play on "abracadabra" to reflect his intention to deliver books as if by magic. However, his lawyer misheard it as "cadaver," sounded too ominous.
Moreover, Cadabra was an obscure reference many people wouldn‘t get. So after ruling it out, Bezos paged through dictionaries until Amazon jumped out.
Other early name contenders Bezos considered included Awake, Browse, and Bookmall, but none conveyed the scope of his vision for this bookstore turned everything store.
Amazon‘s Laser Focus on Books in the Beginning
Given Amazon‘s mind-boggling array of retail categories today—from Alexa devices to groceries to streaming video—you‘d be stunned to learn it started by only selling books online.
When Bezos incorporated Amazon in July 1994, he strategically made books the only products available for three key reasons:
Massive selection: The world of books provided endless inventory variety.
Easy to ship: Books are light and durable making them perfect for shipping.
Universal demand: Just about everyone buys books, so appeal was wide.
This allowed Amazon to perfect critical ecommerce infrastructure like order processing and rapid delivery before expanding into other merchandise.
| Year | Major Expansion |
|---|---|
| 1998 | CDs, movies, and more media |
| 1999 | Launched Amazon Marketplace |
| 2002 | Added toys, electronics, tools |
| 2005 | Launched Amazon Prime |
| 2007 | Digital content like Kindle ebooks |
| 2017 | Acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion |
I‘ve always found it remarkable how Amazon established itself as a book juggernaut before venturing into new ground. But Bezos knew books were the ideal first step.
Meteoritic Rise to Ecommerce Dominance
Unlike most fledgling startups, Amazon soared to success almost instantly after its 1994 founding. Astonishingly, within its first full year selling books online, Amazon already had:
- 1 million customers on its platform
- $15.7 million in revenue in 1996
- Knowledgeable veteran managers like Rick Dalzell from Walmart
Propelled by Bezos‘ bold vision and intense work ethic, Amazon saw sales leap to a staggering $148 million in 1997.
Bezos expected employees to match his tireless drive, demanding 60+ hour work weeks in Amazon‘s all-or-nothing early days. This hustle and willingness to sacrifice unquestionably paid off in cementing Amazon‘s foundations.
While competitors like Barnes & Noble drowned in bureaucracy, Bezos moved swiftly to offer unmatched book selection, customer experience, and tech innovation.
From these humble beginnings out of Bezos‘ garage, Amazon has risen to a $1.7+ trillion market cap company that‘s everywhere and sells everything. The name Amazon proved the perfect encapsulation of such wild ambition.
Amazon‘s Ever-Expanding Empire
No question, a huge element of Amazon‘s continuous growth is its network of acquisitions and subsidiaries.
To stretch into new markets and business lines, Amazon has continually acquired strategically selected companies:
- Zappos: Brought superior footwear/clothing expertise
- Whole Foods: Brick-and-mortar foothold in groceries
- Ring: Access to home security with Amazon synergies
- MGM: Vast entertainment content library and IP
Critics argue this expansionism reveals Bezos‘ win-at-all-costs mentality. But for customers, it‘s enabled Amazon to offer incredible convenience and selection.
Personally, as a seller, I‘m amazed at how many emerging brands choose to launch first on Amazon for its unrivaled reach. Though competitors abound, none can match the trust and visibility Amazon brings.
Today, Amazon offers an endless array of physical products, produces Emmy-winning content, leads in cloud computing, and continues disrupting.
The name Amazon implies limitless scale and diversity. And Amazon itself has lived up to this meaning perfectly.
Why Amazon Was the Perfect Name from Day One
In conclusion, I hope you‘ve enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at why and how Jeff Bezos landed on Amazon for his once-tiny online bookstore.
The name Amazon brilliantly captured the enormous selection and pioneering spirit Bezos wanted to infuse in the company. And it still encapsulates the innovative, customer-centric spirit that makes Amazon an unstoppable force today.
Over 2,800 words later, I hope I‘ve satisfied your curiosity about Amazon‘s origins! Let me know if you have any other questions.
