Amazon Counter’s, the net retailer’s in-store pickup possibility that launched this summer time at 100 Rite Aid areas within the U.S., is now increasing. The firm introduced at the moment the service will attain hundreds extra areas with the additions of recent companions GNC, Health Mart, and Stage Stores.
GNC is the well-known well being and diet chain. Health Mart operates a community of independently owned and operated pharmacies. Stage Stores, in the meantime, operates Gordmans off-price shops, Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles, and Stage shops.
Amazon Counter is a part of the rising Amazon Hub community, which provides pickup areas for Amazon deliveries in addition to hundreds of pickup Lockers throughout the U.S. The system appeals to those that don’t discover dwelling supply handy — maybe as a result of they work in an workplace or don’t have wherever protected to obtain packages.
Amazon at the moment provides a variety of alternate options to leaving packages on the doorstep, together with Amazon Counter and Amazon Lockers, Key by Amazon for keyless entry into houses and automobiles, and Amazon Day supply dates.
With Counter, Amazon’s system is designed to be minimally disruptive to the brick-and-mortar’s day-to-day operations. Customers merely present a barcode to the shop worker to obtain their bundle.
It could appear shocking that the very retailers Amazon has been placing out of enterprise with its on-line superstore would comply with associate up like this. But because it seems, Amazon can drive site visitors offline, too.
Department retailer chain Kohl’s, for instance, just lately expanded its Amazon partnership on returns to all its 1,150 U.S. areas after its preliminary trials drove important income will increase. Struggling Stein Mart additionally just lately embraced the enemy with plans to put in Amazon Lockers in some 200 shops, hoping for a similar consequence.
The new set of Amazon Counter companions, may equally profit.
“The response we’ve heard from our customers and partners after the launch of Counter earlier this year has been tremendous,” stated Patrick Supanc, Worldwide Director of Amazon Hub, in a press release. “This new network of pickup points gives customers a pickup experience that is fast, flexible and convenient, and partners are thrilled with the strong engagement and additional foot traffic Counter is driving for their stores.”
Though not talked about by Amazon, it’s price stating that a few of its Counter partnerships are with brick-and-mortar pharmacies. After Amazon’s acquisition of on-line pharmacy PillPack and the launch of its healthcare JV with Berkshire Hathaway and JP Morgan, some anticipate Amazon will transfer deeper into the world of prescription drugs sooner or later. A line of retail pharmacy companions couldn’t harm.