Amazon is set to expand its office supplies business in Europe and worldwide, as the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in sales of such products through online

channels. According to Alexandre Gagnon, Vice President of Amazon Business, gross sales in Europe for this segment have seen a compound annual growth rate of 25% from 2020 to 2022.

Although Amazon launched its business in Germany in 2016 and in other European countries thereafter, the company did not disclose the names of countries it would target next. Amazon is investing in its logistics to make it easier for European companies to purchase items like office chairs, desks, and printer ink in bulk, with the aim of securing supply contracts.

Amazon Business offers higher margins than the company's consumer business, since making fewer bulk deliveries is cheaper than delivering millions of small parcels to individual customers. The business also offers discounts to companies for bulk orders. Amazon Business customers in Europe include Centrica, ABB, and Siemens Gamesa. The pandemic has forced employees to work from home, resulting in individuals and businesses having to invest in furniture for home offices. Photo by Roger Green, Wikimedia commons.