Amazon, the biggest on-line retailer on the earth, is at present benefiting from rising demand, regardless of growing financial issues amongst shoppers nationwide.
Through the third quarter of this yr, Amazon’s internet gross sales within the U.S. elevated by 11% year-over-year, based on its newest earnings report. It additionally generated about $21 billion in internet earnings, which is larger than the $15.3 billion it earned throughout the identical quarter in 2024.
The increase in gross sales comes throughout a time when Amazon is increasing its same-day and next-day supply to over 4,000 smaller cities, cities, and rural communities throughout the nation, an initiative it plans to finish by the tip of this yr.
“In the third quarter, our sharp pricing, broad selection and fast delivery speeds continue to resonate with customers,” mentioned Amazon Chief Monetary Officer Brian Olsavsky throughout an earnings name on Oct. 31. “Customers appreciate the ability to quickly receive items essential for their daily needs, including perishable groceries and have them delivered in the same day.”
Amazon’s third-quarter gross sales elevated yr over yr.
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Amazon’s vacation gross sales could also be in bother
Amazon is betting huge on the vacation season, which Olsavsky claims is the corporate’s “peak season,” to shore up much more shopper demand; nevertheless, a rising boycott effort could quickly put a dent in its gross sales progress throughout probably the most important time of the yr in retail.
Between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, Amazon will face the “We Ain’t Buying It” boycott, which is organized by grassroots organizations Black Voters Matter, Indivisible and Till Freedom.
The boycott is encouraging shoppers to “hit pause on shopping from major corporations” throughout Thanksgiving weekend, particularly focusing on Amazon, Residence Depot and Goal, based on the marketing campaign’s web site.
The boycott’s organizers are particularly focusing on Amazon resulting from its dominance in retail, controversy over the way it treats staff and its donation to the Trump administration.
Associated: Residence Depot faces rising shopper boycott calls forward of holidays
“Amazon holds a monopolistic position in the market, contributes to dangerous working conditions for its employees and drivers, and (former) CEO Jeff Bezos has donated over $1 million to this administration,” mentioned the group on its web site.
Emarketer estimates that Amazon controls greater than 40% of the U.S. e-commerce market, regardless of rising competitors. Amid its progress, the retail big has lately suffered controversy over the working circumstances of its warehouse staff.
A Senate committee investigation final yr discovered that over the previous seven years, Amazon staff had been virtually twice as more likely to be injured on the job in comparison with staff at different warehouses within the trade.
The report additionally revealed that in 2023, Amazon warehouses recorded 30% extra accidents than the warehousing trade common.
Amazon additionally confronted a criticism from the Federal Commerce Fee for allegedly subsidizing its labor prices by seizing suggestions its supply drivers acquired from prospects. In February, Amazon agreed to pay virtually $4 million to settle that lawsuit.
The boycott comes amid a important time of the vacation season
The “We Ain’t Buying It” boycott encourages shoppers to buy at small or native companies as they keep away from making Amazon purchases.
“Thanksgiving retail week is a crucial period for big retailers; nearly 20% of annual sales happen between Black Friday and Cyber Monday,” reads the marketing campaign’s web site. “If we coordinate even a small drop in these numbers, we send a powerful message: we want to see them stand up and stop enabling harm for profit.”
The boycott risk looms simply as a file variety of economically pressured shoppers are anticipated to buy on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to benefit from discounted costs.
What number of U.S. shoppers plan to buy throughout Thanksgiving weekend 2025:
- About 58% of shoppers have already began their vacation procuring.
- Roughly 186.9 million individuals plan to buy from Thanksgiving Day by means of Cyber Monday this yr, marking the largest variety of customers on file.
- Particularly, 70% of shoppers plan to buy on Black Friday, whereas 40% plan to buy on Cyber Monday and 36% will doubtlessly store on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Supply: Nationwide Retail Federation
“Many Americans consider shopping to be an important part of their Thanksgiving holiday and one of the best ways to get deals on gifts,” mentioned Prosper Government Vice President of Technique Phil Rist in a press launch. “Of those planning to take advantage of sales, over half say it’s because the deals are too good to pass up. Others point to the tradition or simply say they like to start their holiday shopping during the long weekend.”
This isn’t the one boycott Amazon confronted this yr. In March, The Individuals’s Union USA organized a weeklong Amazon boycott as a result of firm allegedly exploiting its staff, harming small companies, firing workers for organizing unions, monopolizing industries, utilizing loopholes to dodge paying taxes and violating the privateness of its prospects.
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The group later organized one other weeklong Amazon boycott in Might, after Bezos made an settlement with President Donald Trump to not record tariff prices subsequent to merchandise costs on Amazon’s web site.
For your complete month of July, The Individuals’s Union USA inspired shoppers to boycott Amazon as soon as once more, this time as a result of retailer’s therapy of its staff on Amazon Prime Day and its founder’s alleged minimal tax funds.
Boycotts have gotten a rising downside for retailers
Extra People have lately opted to boycott corporations amid heightened political tensions. For instance, corporations reminiscent of Goal, Walmart and Lowe’s have confronted boycotts from shoppers this yr for his or her insurance policies and enterprise practices.
The place People stand on boycotting corporations in 2025:
- Earlier than buying from a enterprise, 45% of People often analysis the corporate’s values or beliefs.
- Additionally, 31% of People have boycotted a enterprise resulting from causes reminiscent of the corporate’s endorsement of discrimination, its political donations, affiliations, non secular messaging or practices.
- Moreover, 37% would extra doubtless boycott a big company, whereas 7% would boycott a small enterprise and 28% would boycott each.
Supply: LendingTree
“Any company that attempts to downplay the importance of politics in their customers’ shopping choices does so at its own peril,” mentioned Matt Schulz, LendingTree chief shopper finance analyst, within the survey. “Your potential customers are listening closely to what your business says, whether you like it or not.”
Associated: Shoppers boycott Goal, Amazon, Residence Depot, right here’s why
