Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

Amazon's Business Marketplace Hits $1 Billion in Sales The mega seller is now a significant player in a fragmented industry worth more than $8.2 trillion in the United States.

By Reuters

This story originally appeared on Reuters

Bloomberg | Getty Images

Amazon.com Inc.'s business marketplace, which connects businesses with suppliers, has generated $1 billion in sales in its first year, making it a significant player in a fragmented industry worth more than $8.2 trillion in the United States.

Amazon Business offers U.S. businesses exclusive pricing and discounts for buying in bulk, free two-day shipping for orders of more than $49, tax exemption and the option to get products delivered with an Amazon guarantee.

"We are continuing to grow at a rate of 20 percent month-on-month, and that highlights ... how strong the need is in this segment," Amazon Vice President Prentis Wilson told Reuters on Tuesday.

The business marketplace, which Amazon has described as one of its important areas for growth, extends its role as a middleman for third-party vendors, which account for more than 40 percent of the company's sales.

This also helps Amazon gain an edge in the fast-growing online business-to-business sector, which is likely to account for about 12 percent of B2B sales in the United States by 2020, according to estimates by Forrester Research in 2015.

Wilson said Amazon added more than 30,000 sellers and more than 300,000 businesses to its platform in the past year and continues to add "thousands of customers" every week.

Amazon's customers on the platform range from companies like Cardinal Financial Corp. to consumer products makers like Henkel & Co. and institutions like the University of California-San Diego and the University of Illinois.

Some of the most widely sold products on the platform include computer and information technology equipment, office supplies, lab equipment and food service supplies.

Amazon Business has also started beta testing an offer to extend lines of credit to businesses that register on its platform, Wilson said.

These lines of credit could range from tens of thousands of dollars up to $1 million, Wilson added.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Solutions

Need Photoshop? Think Again. Meet Its Simpler, AI-Powered Sibling.

No learning curve, just a quick way to get your work done.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business Solutions

The Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs and No Subscriptions Required for Cyber Monday

Lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2019, tailored for entrepreneurs on Mac or Windows.

Marketing

7 Innovative Marketing Ideas That Will Help Your Brand Stand Out This Holiday Season

These seven creative holiday marketing strategies can help your business stand out from competitors, connect with audiences and make a real impact.

Franchise

The Top 10 Burger Franchises in 2024

Taste the sizzle success with the best burger franchises, according to the 2024 Franchise 500 Ranking.

Growing a Business

5 Reasons Why 2025 Will Be Your Most Amazing Year Yet as an Entrepreneur

2025 is set to be a pivotal year for entrepreneurs, driven by a combination of favorable economic, political and market conditions.