Zak Watts and Mike Bassani, director and consumables lead for Amazon Pets respectively, joined presenters during the inaugural NAVC E-Commerce Summit that took place September 19 in Kansas City. Amazon defines consumables as food and healthcare products such as parasite prevention and litter will be Amazon’s focus. Other pet items are available, but will not be critical. The company aims to drive loyalty and repeat purchases.
Amazon’s goal is to build the pet category the “right way,” with the customer obsession principle as the roadmap.
Source: DVM 360, October 2, 2018. Link.
Bassani says the company wants to work directly with the best brands in the segment and eventually serve all species and breeds in collaboration with the veterinary community. Amazon doesn’t want to be seen as predatory; it wants to collaborate.
INSIGHTS: Animal Health Digest also attended the E-Commerce Summit. In addition to Amazon, other company principles shared innovations and competencies in telemedicine, pharmacy fulfillment and challenges from the retail channel. The underlying takeaway is the need to serve customers the way they prefer to be served.