by Michael Clarke, with Andy Adelson, and David Krebs, January 2020
The introduction of the Amazon GO concept store several years ago was a seminal moment for the retail sector. Although many were quick to dismiss this as technology overkill with limited potential to profitably scale, it offered a glimpse into the future of retail and left some retail executives wondering whether they had “missed the boat”. Fast-forward a couple of years and Amazon GO stores have not overtaken the retail landscape. In fact, Amazon has come nowhere close to opening 3,000 Go stores as once reported. However, Amazon’s foray into physical retail – including their acquisition of Whole Foods – is only beginning.