Amazon, which began its journey thirty years ago, has grown into an enormous entity that is often referred to as “The Everything Company.” This transformation is evident in its vast operations, such as the massive fulfillment center located in Dartford, near London. With millions of items in stock and hundreds of thousands sold daily, Amazon boasts an impressive efficiency, claiming that it can process an order within two hours. However, this is just a glimpse of the company’s extensive reach, which includes streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, smart home devices such as Alexa and Ring, and a significant presence in cloud computing through Amazon Web Services.

The evolution of Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, has been marked by rapid growth and continuous innovation. Despite facing criticism regarding working conditions and tax practices, the company has managed to maintain its dominance in various sectors. As Amazon enters its fourth decade, a pressing question arises: what strategies will it employ to sustain its growth? Analysts like Sucharita Kodali ponder the challenges of maintaining double-digit growth when revenues have already reached half a trillion dollars. One potential avenue is leveraging the vast shopping data from Prime members to enhance advertising on its streaming platform, which is increasingly reliant on commercial revenue.

However, the integration of Amazon’s diverse business segments presents its own challenges. For instance, the potential synergies between its satellite division, Kuiper, and its grocery chain, Whole Foods, remain unclear. To navigate this complexity, experts suggest that Amazon should continue exploring new business ventures, even if some fail. Recent decisions, such as the discontinuation of a robot line after just nine months, exemplify the company’s willingness to experiment. Yet, as Amazon expands, it must also contend with growing regulatory scrutiny regarding data usage, environmental impact, and its overall size.

The sheer scale of Amazon poses logistical challenges, particularly in urban areas where infrastructure struggles to accommodate increased deliveries. Juozas Kaziukėnas, founder of Marketplace Pulse, highlights the importance of emerging markets like India, Mexico, and Brazil for Amazon’s future growth. However, he emphasizes that entering these markets requires not only participation but also the development of the necessary infrastructure to support e-commerce. This presents a unique challenge for Amazon as it seeks to expand its global footprint.

Finally, competition from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein is another critical factor that Amazon must address. Amanda Mull notes that these companies have successfully attracted consumers by offering lower prices, especially during economic downturns when cost-conscious shopping becomes paramount. While Kaziukėnas believes that these new entrants will remain niche players, he acknowledges that any significant challenge to Amazon’s dominance will likely require a radical shift in consumer behavior or technological innovation, possibly in the realm of artificial intelligence. As Amazon reflects on its past and looks to the future, it must remain vigilant and adaptable in an ever-evolving marketplace.

Original news source: Amazon at 30: What next for ‘The Everything Company’? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out different aspects of Amazon’s business (e.g., delivery, streaming services, cloud computing) without using words. The other groups will guess what they are acting out.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to Amazon’s business practices, such as “Amazon’s working conditions are acceptable” or “Amazon should expand to more emerging markets.” Students will walk around the classroom, asking their classmates for their opinions on each statement and tallying the results.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In small groups, students will brainstorm catchy headlines for the article that summarizes Amazon’s journey and current challenges. Each group will present their top three headlines to the class for discussion and feedback.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large sheet of paper or whiteboard, students will create a mind map that explores Amazon’s various business segments and their interconnections. They will include key terms from the article and make connections to visualize how these segments contribute to Amazon’s overall strategy.

– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Each student will write down three statements about Amazon based on the article, two of which are true and one that is false. They will take turns sharing their statements with a partner, who will guess which statement is the lie. Afterward, they can discuss the correct information from the article.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What factors contributed to Amazon’s transformation into “The Everything Company”?
2. Who founded Amazon, and in what year did it begin its journey?
3. What are some of the diverse business segments that Amazon operates in?
4. What challenges does Amazon face in maintaining double-digit growth as it enters its fourth decade?
5. How do analysts suggest Amazon could enhance advertising on its streaming platform?
6. What logistical challenges does Amazon encounter in urban areas, particularly regarding deliveries?
7. Why are emerging markets like India, Mexico, and Brazil considered important for Amazon’s future growth?
8. How does competition from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein impact Amazon’s market strategy?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Amazon, which began its journey thirty years ago, has grown into an enormous entity that is often referred to as “The Everything Company.” This transformation is evident in its vast operations, such as the massive fulfillment center located in Dartford, near London. With millions of items in stock and hundreds of thousands sold daily, Amazon (1)______ an impressive efficiency, claiming that it can process an order within two (2)______. However, this is just a glimpse of the company’s extensive (3)______, which includes streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, smart home devices such as Alexa and Ring, and a significant presence in cloud computing through Amazon Web Services.

The (4)______ of Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, has been marked by rapid growth and continuous innovation. Despite facing criticism regarding working (5)______ and tax practices, the company has (6)______ to maintain its dominance in various sectors. As Amazon enters its fourth decade, a pressing question arises: what strategies will it employ to sustain its growth? Analysts like Sucharita Kodali ponder the challenges of maintaining double-digit growth when revenues have already (7)______ half a trillion dollars. One potential avenue is leveraging the vast shopping data from (8)______ members to enhance advertising on its streaming platform, which is increasingly reliant on commercial revenue.

However, the integration of Amazon’s diverse business segments presents its own challenges. For instance, the potential synergies between its satellite division, Kuiper, and its grocery chain, Whole Foods, remain unclear. To navigate this complexity, experts suggest that Amazon should continue exploring new (9)______ ventures, even if some fail. Recent decisions, such as the discontinuation of a robot line after just nine months, exemplify the company’s willingness to experiment. Yet, as Amazon expands, it must also contend with growing regulatory scrutiny regarding data usage, environmental impact, and its overall size.

The sheer scale of Amazon poses logistical challenges, particularly in urban areas where infrastructure struggles to accommodate increased deliveries. Juozas Kaziukėnas, founder of Marketplace Pulse, highlights the (10)______ of (11)______ markets like India, Mexico, and (12)______ for Amazon’s future growth. However, he emphasizes that entering these markets requires not only participation but also the development of the necessary infrastructure to support e-commerce. This presents a unique challenge for Amazon as it seeks to expand its global footprint.

Finally, competition from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein is another critical (13)______ that Amazon must (14)______. Amanda Mull notes that these companies have successfully attracted consumers by offering (15)______ prices, especially during economic downturns when cost-conscious shopping becomes paramount. While Kaziukėnas believes that these new entrants will remain niche players, he acknowledges that any significant challenge to Amazon’s dominance will likely require a radical shift in consumer behavior or technological innovation, possibly in the realm of artificial (16)______. As Amazon reflects on its past and looks to the future, it must remain vigilant and adaptable in an ever-evolving marketplace.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on the concept of “The Everything Company”? Do you think it’s a positive or negative development in the retail industry? Why?

2. How would you feel if you had to rely on a single company for all your shopping needs?

3. Do you like using online shopping services like Amazon? Why or why not?

4. What is a major advantage and disadvantage of shopping online compared to traditional retail stores?

5. Do you think Amazon’s rapid growth is sustainable in the long term? Why or why not?

6. How would you feel if you were an employee at Amazon, knowing the company’s reputation regarding working conditions?

7. What is a product or service that you think Amazon should expand into? Why?

8. Do you think data usage and privacy concerns are important when it comes to companies like Amazon? Why?

9. How would you feel if you discovered that a company you frequently shop from was involved in unethical practices?

10. What is a challenge you think Amazon will face as it continues to expand into emerging markets?

11. Do you believe that competition from companies like Temu and Shein will significantly impact Amazon’s business? Why or why not?

12. How would you feel if you had to pay more for a product just to support ethical business practices?

13. What is a technological innovation that you think could change the landscape of online shopping in the future?

14. Do you think that consumers have a responsibility to research the companies they buy from? Why or why not?

15. How would you feel if you were a small business owner competing against a giant like Amazon? What strategies would you consider to survive?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. entity
2. fulfillment
3. efficiency
4. innovation
5. dominance
6. synergies
7. regulatory
8. logistical
9. infrastructure
10. footprint
11. scrutiny
12. paramount
13. niche
14. radical
15. adaptable

Meanings:
(A) Close and critical observation or examination
(B) Interactions or cooperation that produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects
(C) The area or space occupied by something
(D) The act of completing or achieving something
(E) The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
(F) A specialized segment of the market for a particular kind of product or service
(G) Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough
(H) A thing with distinct and independent existence
(I) Able to adjust to new conditions or changes
(J) The ability to accomplish a task with minimal waste of time and resources
(K) Of utmost importance or significance
(L) Relating to rules or laws that control an activity or process
(M) The introduction of new ideas or methods
(N) Relating to the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation
(O) The state of having control or influence over others
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who founded Amazon?
(a) Jeff Bezos
(b) Bill Gates
(c) Elon Musk
(d) Mark Zuckerberg

2. What is one of Amazon’s streaming services?
(a) Amazon Prime Video
(b) Netflix
(c) Hulu
(d) Disney+

3. What is the name of Amazon’s cloud computing service?
(a) Google Cloud
(b) Microsoft Azure
(c) Amazon Web Services
(d) IBM Cloud

4. Which grocery chain did Amazon acquire?
(a) Trader Joe’s
(b) Whole Foods
(c) Safeway
(d) Kroger

5. What is one challenge Amazon faces as it expands?
(a) Lack of product variety
(b) Decreasing customer base
(c) Logistical challenges in urban areas
(d) Poor marketing strategies

6. Which emerging markets are highlighted as important for Amazon’s future growth?
(a) Japan, Germany, and Canada
(b) India, Mexico, and Brazil
(c) Australia, France, and Italy
(d) South Africa, Russia, and Argentina

7. What is one criticism Amazon has faced?
(a) Product quality
(b) Customer service
(c) Delivery speed
(d) Working conditions and tax practices

8. What potential strategy might Amazon use to enhance its advertising?
(a) Reducing prices on products
(b) Increasing the number of fulfillment centers
(c) Expanding its product range
(d) Leveraging shopping data from Prime members

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Amazon’s business segments include streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, smart home devices, and cloud storage through Amazon Web Services.
2. Amazon operates a massive fulfillment center in Dartford, near London, which holds millions of items in stock.
3. Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and has shrunk significantly over the past thirty years.
4. The company faces challenges related to working conditions, tax practices, and regulatory scrutiny as it continues to grow.
5. The company is often referred to as “The Everything Company” due to its vast range of operations and products.
6. Competition from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein poses a challenge to Amazon, particularly in terms of pricing and consumer behavior.
7. Developed markets such as India, Mexico, and Brazil are seen as crucial for Amazon’s future growth, necessitating infrastructure development.
8. The company claims it can process an order within two days, showcasing its efficiency in operations.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What are some of the key business segments that contribute to Amazon’s extensive reach and operations?
2. How does Amazon plan to leverage its Prime member data to enhance its advertising revenue?
3. What challenges does Amazon face as it seeks to integrate its diverse business segments, such as Kuiper and Whole Foods?
4. In what ways must Amazon adapt to the logistical challenges posed by urban infrastructure for increased deliveries?
5. How do competition from Chinese retailers and changing consumer behavior impact Amazon’s strategies for maintaining its market dominance?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What factors contributed to Amazon’s transformation into “The Everything Company”?
Amazon’s transformation into “The Everything Company” is attributed to its vast operations, including a massive fulfillment center, efficiency in processing orders, and diversification into streaming services, smart home devices, and cloud computing.

2. Who founded Amazon, and in what year did it begin its journey?
Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994.

3. What are some of the diverse business segments that Amazon operates in?
Amazon operates in various business segments, including e-commerce, streaming services (Amazon Prime Video), smart home devices (Alexa and Ring), and cloud computing (Amazon Web Services).

4. What challenges does Amazon face in maintaining double-digit growth as it enters its fourth decade?
Amazon faces challenges in maintaining double-digit growth due to its already substantial revenue of half a trillion dollars and the need to find new strategies to sustain growth.

5. How do analysts suggest Amazon could enhance advertising on its streaming platform?
Analysts suggest that Amazon could leverage the vast shopping data from Prime members to enhance advertising on its streaming platform, which is increasingly reliant on commercial revenue.

6. What logistical challenges does Amazon encounter in urban areas, particularly regarding deliveries?
Amazon encounters logistical challenges in urban areas where infrastructure struggles to accommodate the increased number of deliveries.

7. Why are emerging markets like India, Mexico, and Brazil considered important for Amazon’s future growth?
Emerging markets like India, Mexico, and Brazil are considered important for Amazon’s future growth because they present opportunities for expansion, but entering these markets requires the development of necessary infrastructure to support e-commerce.

8. How does competition from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein impact Amazon’s market strategy?
Competition from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein impacts Amazon’s market strategy by presenting challenges in attracting consumers, especially during economic downturns when lower prices become a significant factor in consumer decision-making.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) boasts
(2) hours
(3) reach
(4) evolution
(5) conditions
(6) managed
(7) reached
(8) Prime
(9) business
(10) importance
(11) emerging
(12) Brazil
(13) factor
(14) address
(15) lower
(16) intelligence
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. entity
Answer: (H) A thing with distinct and independent existence

2. fulfillment
Answer: (D) The act of completing or achieving something

3. efficiency
Answer: (J) The ability to accomplish a task with minimal waste of time and resources

4. innovation
Answer: (M) The introduction of new ideas or methods

5. dominance
Answer: (O) The state of having control or influence over others

6. synergies
Answer: (B) Interactions or cooperation that produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects

7. regulatory
Answer: (L) Relating to rules or laws that control an activity or process

8. logistical
Answer: (N) Relating to the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation

9. infrastructure
Answer: (E) The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise

10. footprint
Answer: (C) The area or space occupied by something

11. scrutiny
Answer: (A) Close and critical observation or examination

12. paramount
Answer: (K) Of utmost importance or significance

13. niche
Answer: (F) A specialized segment of the market for a particular kind of product or service

14. radical
Answer: (G) Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough

15. adaptable
Answer: (I) Able to adjust to new conditions or changes
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who founded Amazon?
Answer: (a) Jeff Bezos

2. What is one of Amazon’s streaming services?
Answer: (a) Amazon Prime Video

3. What is the name of Amazon’s cloud computing service?
Answer: (c) Amazon Web Services

4. Which grocery chain did Amazon acquire?
Answer: (b) Whole Foods

5. What is one challenge Amazon faces as it expands?
Answer: (c) Logistical challenges in urban areas

6. Which emerging markets are highlighted as important for Amazon’s future growth?
Answer: (b) India, Mexico, and Brazil

7. What is one criticism Amazon has faced?
Answer: (d) Working conditions and tax practices

8. What potential strategy might Amazon use to enhance its advertising?
Answer: (d) Leveraging shopping data from Prime members
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Amazon’s business segments include streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, smart home devices, and cloud storage through Amazon Web Services. (Answer: False)
2. Amazon operates a massive fulfillment center in Dartford, near London, which holds millions of items in stock. (Answer: True)
3. Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and has shrunk significantly over the past thirty years. (Answer: False)
4. The company faces challenges related to working conditions, tax practices, and regulatory scrutiny as it continues to grow. (Answer: True)
5. The company is often referred to as “The Everything Company” due to its vast range of operations and products. (Answer: True)
6. Competition from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein poses a challenge to Amazon, particularly in terms of pricing and consumer behavior. (Answer: True)
7. Developed markets such as India, Mexico, and Brazil are seen as crucial for Amazon’s future growth, necessitating infrastructure development. (Answer: False)
8. The company claims it can process an order within two days, showcasing its efficiency in operations. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧