The company's shares didn't move much on the news, but it's still worth noting that consumer electronics retailer Circuit City
Running online storefronts for retailers large and small is a nice business for Amazon: Its clients, from major international firms to mom-and-pop stores, get the benefit of an expert online merchant's brand -- and its service and fulfillment know-how -- while cutting down on the expense of setting up an Internet division. (As of this writing, details on the workings of the Amazon/Circuit City partnership are still on Amazon's website: Read 'em while you can.)
As retailers such as Circuit City, Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation Best Buy
Funny how things change. A few years ago, it seemed as though only a few megabrand superpowers, Amazon among them, would dominate the Internet retail space. Companies with solid positions in real-world retail were all too happy to find partners in hopes of scoring a few online bucks on the online giants' coattails.
Now, type "iPod mini" into Google's
Rather than being funneled toward a few well-known companies, shoppers can direct their online retail experience based on any number of factors, price among them. That takes some of the power out of the retailers' hands, but it also gives them ample opportunity to determine how they want to differentiate themselves from the competition.
Fool contributor Dave Marino-Nachison doesn't own any of the companies mentioned.