Replay: Jeff Bezos launches to the edge of space on Blue Origin’s first passenger flight July 20, 2021 Jeff Bezos has launched aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The rocket’s first passenger flight has taken Bezos and three companions to the edge of space. The billionaire founder of Amazon and Blue Origin rode a New Shepard rocket up to the Kármán line – an imaginary boundary 100 kilometers above sea level, where many experts say space begins. There, he experienced weightlessness [...]
Fake reviews could be outlawed in consumer protection overhaul July 20, 2021 Paying for someone to write or host fake reviews online could be made illegal under new plans to ramp up protection for consumers. The government has unveiled proposals to crack down on fake reviews as part of a wider package of measures targeting “consumer catfishers” who use dodgy tactics to dupe online shoppers. It has [...]
Morrisons push ahead with plans to open automated grocery store as ‘pingdemic’ continues to hit supermarkets July 19, 2021 Morrisons are said to be close to unveiling an unmanned pilot store to the public “within months”, as they look to follow Amazon’s lead in modernising the approach to grocery shopping. The store will rely on shoppers to scan their smartphones upon entry before having digital cameras follow their every step in store to check [...]
Amazon hit by multiple outages around the world July 12, 2021 Amazon was hit by multiple outages from Sunday into Monday, but the company said the problems have now been resolved. Watch the full report.
Amazon snaps up Tesco exec Tony Hoggett to run stores worldwide July 9, 2021 Amazon today announced it has appointed Tony Hoggett, formerly one of Tesco’s top executives, to run its physical stores. Joining in January 2022, Hoggett will take on the role of senior vice president of physical stores and report to Dave Clark, chief executive of Amazon’s worldwide consumer business. He will be based in Seattle. Clark [...]
Branson and Bezos space race outruns insurers July 9, 2021 Billionaires Sir Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos are reportedly launching into space without insurance for injury or death. Brokers told the NYT’s Dealbook newsletter neither Branson or Bezos, or their respective companies Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, have purchased liability insurance. This is most likely because there isn’t a fully functioning insurance system for casual [...]
Ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer becomes ninth member of $100bn club July 8, 2021 Former chief executive officer of tech giant Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, has become the world’s ninth person to join the coveted $100bn club. Now owning the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, Ballmer stepped down from the helm of Microsoft in 2014. The ex-tech giant boss has seen his wealth swell by $20.1bn this year alone, driven by [...]
Amazon accounts for a quarter of all UK online spending July 7, 2021 Amazon commands a sizeable chunk of all UK online spending, with more than a quarter of online purchases made via the ecommerce giant. A total 27 per cent of all UK online spending is via Amazon, according to data from ecommerce consultancy Wunderman Thompson Commerce. Last year, eMarketer forecasted that UK consumers will spend £141.33bn [...]
Life after Amazon: What’s next for Jeff Bezos? July 7, 2021 Jeff Bezos has stepped down as Amazon’s chief executive, 27 years after founding the company. Now, he’s moving on to the next phase in his life and it includes space travel. Watch the full report.
UK small businesses rack up £3.5bn in Amazon export sales July 7, 2021 Small and medium-sized British businesses selling on Amazon recorded over £3.5bn in export sales last year, according to figures released by the tech giant. Amazon said more than 14,000 UK SMEs surpassed £100,000 in sales in 2020, while over 1,000 reached £1m in sales for the first time. The top five categories in which customers [...]