Amazon move could change yet another industry

Retailer now turning attention to delivery services

Amazon has forever changed retail America. Small locally owned businesses have struggled to stay afloat amid the ever-expanding Amazon presence.

That in turn has had an impact on employment, because as those small businesses close, the job opportunities also shrink.

Now, Amazon is turning its attention to a new market: delivery services.

Last week, the company rolled out a new program that allows contractors to launch businesses to deliver Amazon packages. The Associated Press reports, “The move gives Amazon more ways to ship its packages to shoppers without having to rely on UPS, FedEx and other package delivery services.”

Amazon says the program is a way for the company to meet growth for the future.

AP reports that it costs as little as $10,000 for an individual to start a delivery business through Amazon, and participating contractors can lease vans with the Amazon logo, buy Amazon uniforms for drivers, and get support from Amazon to grow their business.

Essentially, Amazon is willing to help people start businesses in order to deliver the company’s packages.

The move is one that will certainly be disruptive to existing delivery services.

But at the same time, the disruption has the potential to help people start their own businesses and generate new jobs.

According to AP, Amazon declined to give details on how much it would pay for the deliveries, but contractors don’t have to lease the vans.

However, one person who was part of the test program told the AP that because of Amazon, he’s busy — and has had to hire 40 workers in the last five months.

Clearly, the program is intriguing. It’s a disruptive change that has the potential to generate jobs across America, instead of closing doors — provided that existing delivery services can stay in business amid the change.

What do you think, readers? Is this move by Amazon a good one? Let us know. Share your thoughts online at www.YumaSun.com, or send us an email at letters@yumasun.com.

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