What companies are Amazon affiliates?

The company formerly known as "Amazon" now goes by the name of "Amazon LLC". It was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos (CEO) with two employees. Today it employs over 300,000 people around the world, and its website is visited by more than 100 million customers on a daily basis.

There are several reasons why this massive online retailer might be worth looking at if you're interested in ecommerce or building your own business. One reason is because Amazon owns so much of the market share within each product category. Another reason is because they've invested heavily into creating their very own infrastructure and systems like AWS and Alexa.

But there's another reason I'm excited about Amazon and want to talk about today – Amazon's subsidiaries! There are quite literally dozens of them, all across the globe, which makes it harder to keep track. But here's my attempt to help you navigate through some of these huge companies and figure out who exactly runs them.

What is an affiliate program link?

An affiliate program link is when someone posts information about something they believe will appeal to readers. This could include things like discounts, sales, reviews, tips & tricks, and other helpful resources. The person posting the link gets paid based on whether or not visitors choose to click-through and purchase the item being promoted.

For example, let’s say you see an ad posted from “Tennis Warehouse” and decide to check it out. You find a great deal on tennis shoes and decide to buy them. That means Tennis Warehouse would get credit towards paying you back. If you purchased $100 worth of tennis shoes then Tennis Warehouse would receive $10.00 from Amazon - minus any fees charged by Amazon.

It's important to note that even though you clicked onto the site from an Amazon affiliate link, you didn't actually make the purchase directly from Amazon.com. Instead, you made that purchase via the seller/affiliate who had put up the advertisement. So technically you should consider yourself an affiliate too. If you don't know where to start, try checking out our guide to becoming an Amazon Affiliate.

How is Amazon Pay done?

While most major online retailers use PayPal to process payments, Amazon uses Amazon Payments instead. In order to use Amazon Payments, you'll need to create an account first. After signing up, go ahead and log in using your email address and password. Once logged in, head to My Account and select Manage Payment Methods. From there, add new payment methods. On the next screen, scroll down until you see Amazon Payments. Click Add New Method and fill out as follows:

Name: AmazonPayments

Method Type: Credit Card

Expiration Date: None

This method can also be used when making purchases inside of Amazon itself. When placing items in your shopping cart, simply look for the option to checkout with Amazon Payments. As long as you sign into your account during checkout, you won't have to worry about it again.

Once you have added Amazon Payments as a payment option, you can proceed to place orders without issue. However, if you'd prefer to stick to PayPal, you can still do that as well. Simply follow the same steps above but skip Step 2. Then once you're signed into your Amazon account, just go to Your Orders page and click View All Orders. Scroll down and click Show Order Details. Then click Edit Order. Finally, change the shipping method to PayPal.

How does Amazon's pay work?

In short, the way Amazon pays affiliates works depends on the type of products you're promoting. For instance, Amazon offers three different types of payouts depending on which program you join. These programs are referred to as AEM, AMS, and FBA. Each one is explained below.

1. Amazon Associates Marketing Program (AEM): If you promote a specific brand or group of brands, you will earn 25% of every sale generated from those links. This includes anything sold on Amazon such as books, electronics, clothing, toys, etc.

2. Amazon Services Marketplace(AMS): For sellers who sell products outside of Amazon's marketplace, you can earn 30% of every sale generated from those links.

3. Flexible Product Assortment (FPA), which allows you to promote various products at no cost while earning 10% commissions.

Each platform requires slightly different requirements before applying. To learn more about each individual program and eligibility requirements, visit the respective pages linked above.

What is required for Amazon Pay?

Before joining any affiliate program, you must register with Amazon. Upon registering, you'll need to verify your identity. At times, you may need to provide additional documentation or proof of identification in order to complete verification. Here's an overview of the documents needed and examples of acceptable forms of ID:

Driver License

Passport

State Photo Identification

Unauthorized Driver License

Social Security Card

Student ID

Bank Statement

Government Issued Document

Proof of Address

You'll also need to upload copies of your driver license, passport, Social Security card, birth certificate, voter registration form, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck stub, government issued document, lease agreement, student loan papers, rental agreements, insurance policy, marriage license, divorce decree, mortgage paperwork, real estate tax receipt, property deed, military discharge papers, or any other official document proving your identity.

Once you've completed the aforementioned steps, you'll be ready to apply for membership. Visit the relevant section on the main webpage for details on each program and application process. Make sure to review the terms carefully prior to submitting your application. Failure to comply with any rules set forth by Amazon could result in immediate disqualification.

Finally, remember that while Amazon isn't necessarily going to approve your application right away, they typically respond in less than 24 hours.

1. Aliexpress

Aliexpress is an e-commerce platform based in China which sells products from all over the world. The site offers cheap prices for electronics, clothing, food, toys, household goods, books, and many other types of items.

Offers a variety of categories such as electronic gadgets, fashion accessories, kitchen appliances, cosmetics, home decor, etc.

A lot of sellers use Alibaba’s payment system AliPay, but also offer their own methods like credit cards.

No shipping costs or any minimum order amount required.

You can easily find your desired product using the search bar at the top right corner of every page.

There is no need to create an account as everything is available anonymously.

All transactions are done through PayPal.

Shipping options

If you want to receive your package within 24 hours, choose Express Shipping which will cost $5.99 + 3%. However, if you want to wait longer, there are three different delivery options depending on how long you want to wait before receiving your item.

(For example, if you want your purchase delivered within 48 hours then select Next Day Delivery which costs only $7.49 + 2%.)

However, be aware that this option comes with several restrictions. For instance, you cannot change your mind once the parcel leaves the warehouse, so make sure you understand what each one entails before making a decision.

If you don't want to risk getting stuck waiting for days without

When it comes to shopping online, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to which retailers to support with your money. You can shop from large brands like Walmart or Target, or smaller ones like Etsy or Zazzle. But if you want complete control over where your hard-earned cash goes, then shopping at Amazon might be more appealing than anything else on offer.

But before you sign up for an account and start ordering all sorts of products through their website, you should know exactly who owns Amazon – and why they are able to use the name ‘Amazon’ in its entirety.

In this article, we take a look at some of the most important facts about Amazon’s parent company as well as some lesser-known but equally interesting details about other related entities within the huge corporation. We also discuss whether any of these subsidiaries will be merged into Amazon itself or sold off entirely.

So, without further ado, here's everything you need to know about Amazon.com.

What companies do Amazon own?

Amazon doesn't just sell books, CDs, DVDs, toys, clothing, electronics, and so much more - they're a global powerhouse that operates across multiple industries ranging from retailing, cloud computing, logistics, entertainment, ecommerce, media streaming, artificial intelligence, and drones among others.

The company was founded in 1994 under the name Cadabra Inc., and incorporated as a US public limited company (PLC) in 1995. However, it wasn't until 1997 that the company began trading using its current name 'Amazon'. The company went bankrupt twice during the 1990s due to financial issues, but since 2000, it has been one of the world’s largest corporations boasting annual revenues of $1 trillion USD. 

As of March 2020, Amazon had 1,813 operational offices around the globe. There are currently six different operating divisions which include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon Video, Alexa & Echo Devices, Prime Now, Fire TV Stick, and Whole Foods Market.

One thing you'll notice in our list above is that Amazon owns several other businesses outside of those listed below. These include Twitch, Goodreads, IMDb, Audible, Chegg, Book Depository, Jet.com, Blinkist, and Modsy. It would seem that Amazon has become quite the conglomerate!

Which company is owned by Amazon?

It seems to come as no surprise that Amazon owns such a wide range of companies. One of the biggest surprises though is how many of them actually exist. In fact, Amazon holds ownership stakes in hundreds of subsidiaries scattered across dozens of countries. So let’s see how many of them there really are...

Jeff Bezos

Who wouldn’t love to work for someone as successful as Jeff Bezos? Well, according to Forbes, he isn’t particularly fond of working for anyone except himself. He reportedly only ever wants to stay involved in his business ventures, even after retiring from being CEO of the company. This means that Bezos always makes sure he has plenty of time to spend doing whatever he likes best.

This includes spending time with his wife MacKenzie Bezos, going fishing, flying planes, and playing video games. His passion for video gaming is said to have inspired him to create Amazon Game Studios back in 2015. Although the studio hasn’t released any game titles yet, it has attracted some big names like Peter Molyneux, Mark Pincus, and Shigeru Miyamoto.

Bezos loves to fly private jets whenever possible, often taking trips to exotic locations like Hawaii and Tahiti. A few years ago, he bought a 6 million dollar jet called the Boeing 767-300ER named “Gerald R. Ford” in honor of former president Gerald Ford.

There are two main reasons behind Bezos’ buying a plane like this. Firstly, he wanted another way to travel while relaxing alone. Secondly, he thought it could help promote his spaceflight ambitions. He plans to send astronauts to Mars by 2033, which is pretty ambitious considering NASA still hasn’t sent humans beyond Earth orbit since 1972.

He also enjoys building things, especially buildings made of wood. Back in 2016, he launched a new non-profit organization called “The B Team” whose mission is to build affordable housing units in communities throughout America.

Since 1999, Bezos has donated $2 billion USD worth of stock to charity. He believes giving away wealth is better than hoarding it because people don’t appreciate true philanthropy unless it happens naturally.

How many companies does Jeff Bezos own?

If you think that’s enough information about one man, then check out his empire next. According to Bloomberg, Bezos has a total net worth of $136 billion USD thanks to his various investments. That puts him ahead of everyone else in terms of personal wealth.

However, you won’t find Bezos sharing any of his riches with others. Instead, he prefers investing in projects that benefit humanity rather than individuals. For example, he once pledged to give away half of his fortune after his death, although he later withdrew that promise.

Nevertheless, Bezos remains one of the richest men alive today, which probably explains why he never lets go of his ambition to conquer outer space. If things keep progressing as planned, he hopes to reach Mars by 2038.

How many companies does Jeff Bezos own?

We've already covered the full extent of Bezos' empire, so now let's move onto something completely unrelated. How many companies does Amazon own?

Well, unlike the rest of us mere mortals, Bezos knows every single detail about his company. And he’s very open about it too. On May 24th 2019, he announced that Amazon is planning to acquire Whole Foods Markets in a deal valued at $13.7 Billion USD. Since then, rumors have suggested that the acquisition could lead to the creation of three separate companies: Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go, and possibly Amazon Robotics.

Whole Foods has long been considered one of the top grocery chains in America, although it recently lost market share to Kroger Co. As far as what each of these potential spinoffs will entail, Bezos didn’t reveal much. All he did say was that Amazon is looking forward to combining its technology expertise with Whole Foods’ physical stores.

On November 14th 2018, Amazon acquired Twitch Interactive, a live stream platform operated by Justin.tv in 2010. At first glance, it appears that the acquisition is purely cosmetic as both companies continue to operate independently. However, as per reports from TechCrunch, Twitch will soon be integrated into Amazon’s Prime service and used to broadcast live streams of popular shows like Fortnite and League of Legends.

Speaking of esports, it looks like Amazon is interested in becoming more involved in the industry. Recently, it hired Kyle Kingsbury to oversee a dedicated team responsible for helping teams develop competitive strategies.

The company also owns IMDb, the internet movie database, which allows users to rate movies based on their reviews. In addition to this, Amazon also owns Audible, a digital book retailer, which specializes in audiobooks.

And finally, we mentioned earlier that Amazon owns GoodReads, a social network designed specifically for readers. Despite having millions of members, GoodReads isn’t affiliated with Amazon in any way.

Overall, it seems that Amazon is growing rapidly as both a tech giant and an entertainment juggernaut. With the recent acquisition of Ring, it seems clear that Amazon is determined to expand its presence in consumer security services.

Which company is owned by Amazon?

Now that we've discussed Amazon's subsidiaries, it's time to answer the question posed in the title of this article. Which company is owned by Amazon? Sadly, it’s none of the above. When asked this exact same question, Amazon responded via Twitter saying that "we don't comment on speculation."

Surely this must mean that Amazon owns Amazon Flex, right...? Unfortunately, not so fast. While there is certainly overlap between Amazon and Amazon Flex, the latter isn’t technically a subsidiary of Amazon. This distinction is crucial because it prevents Amazon from owning certain intellectual property associated with the app.

Instead, Amazon Flex is run separately as a division of Amazon LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon. Therefore, Amazon cannot claim ownership of it. What’s more, it’s not connected to Amazon in anyway whatsoever.

Despite this, Amazon does hold shares in Uber Technologies, Inc. and Lyft, Inc., respectively. Both companies are ridehailing apps that compete directly against each other. They both started life as independent startups before eventually merging together to form the larger Uber.

Although Uber and Lyft aren’t officially subsidiaries of Amazon, the company does indirectly own 100% of both companies. Uber became majority-owned by SoftBank in August 2017, whilst Lyft received funding from General Motors in July 2012.

When it comes to shopping online at Amazon, there’s one thing in particular people want from the mega retailer – fast shipping. And if you’re looking for ways to save money on your next order or get things delivered faster than ever before, then Amazon Prime membership might just be the answer.

Prime memberships can vary depending on where you live, but generally speaking they come with free two-day delivery across most products (with some exceptions), as well as unlimited streaming content. If you're thinking about signing up, here's everything you need to know about Amazon Prime. 

But while this service is great when ordering everyday items like toilet paper and cereal, sometimes you don't necessarily want to buy something new every time you go online. Instead, why not try making your purchases through third party sellers who use Amazon's platform instead? These sellers offer unique merchandise that isn't available elsewhere, giving you a chance to score limited edition collectibles and designer clothes without having to pay full price!

And because these sales aren't directly linked to Amazon itself, you'll also avoid paying any extra fees. So if you've been wanting to sell your old sneakers on eBay but never got around to doing so, now could be the perfect opportunity.

Not only that, but it doesn't matter whether you buy anything from any seller using Amazon, as long as they adhere to its policies. That means you won't even see ads during checkout either - which makes the process much more seamless overall.

As such, it's no surprise that Amazon has grown into an empire over the last few decades. With nearly 100 different countries under their belt, along with billions upon billions of dollars worth of revenue each year, it's safe to say that Amazon knows exactly how to make money. But despite being home to thousands of brands, Amazon still manages to keep the majority of them secret until recently.

So, let's take a look at some of the lesser-known names within the Amazon family...

What are Amazon's subsidiaries?

With an estimated 40% of total global retail market share, Amazon surely has plenty of opportunities to expand further. In fact, according to research by analysts firm Canalys, Amazon was responsible for $1 trillion (£788 billion) in sales globally in 2019 alone.  That's roughly equivalent to 40% of the entire world economy.

To put that into perspective, the U.S., which accounts for 35% of the world's GDP, sold $2.5 trillion in goods and services in 2019. Therefore, Amazon clearly has an incredible amount of power when it comes to influencing consumers' buying habits. It's easy to see why so many businesses choose to partner up with the ecommerce giant.

In addition to selling millions of physical products, Amazon offers hundreds of digital services too. For instance, Amazon Music provides access to music downloads and streaming subscriptions, Amazon Video gives users instant movie rentals, and Kindle allows buyers to read books digitally.

There are also several services designed specifically for business owners, offering everything from accounting software to cloud computing solutions. There's even Amazon Business, which helps small and medium sized enterprises manage customer data and streamline internal processes.

The beauty of these partnerships is that customers receive discounts on both sides of the transaction, meaning you always end up saving money. As mentioned earlier though, the deals offered are dependent on certain conditions.

For example, if someone buys a pair of shoes from Zappos via Amazon, they might receive 10% off their purchase thanks to the retailer's partnership deal. However, if someone orders a similar pair of shoes from another brand, they will likely only receive 5%.

This dynamic works perfectly for those who love finding unique experiences, especially since Amazon's selection changes regularly. You'll often find popular retailers like Nike, Adidas, Levi Strauss & Co, and Under Armour among others listed alongside local merchants. This means you can shop locally and conveniently whenever you feel like it, without worrying about missing out on big savings.

What are all Amazon subsidiaries?

You probably already know that Amazon owns Whole Foods Market, Inc., one of America's largest grocery chains. What you might not realize however, is that Amazon also owns smaller competitors that operate independently, like Sprouts Farmers Markets, LLC.

These independent stores tend to specialize in organic foods, produce, meats, dairy, seafood, and natural health care products. They typically feature seasonal specials and exclusive flavors rarely found anywhere else.

Another interesting case involves Amazon Warehouse Club, which operates over 700 warehouses throughout North America. The warehouse clubs allow shoppers to pick up bulk quantities of groceries, household supplies, pharmaceuticals, personal hygiene products, and pet food.

Lastly, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is yet another subsidiary owned by Jeff Bezos, CEO and founder of Amazon. AWS specializes in providing web hosting, server storage, database management, and application development tools.

It should also be noted that Amazon bought Twitch Interactive back in 2014. Twitch is a video game streaming website where users can watch streams hosted by gamers playing almost any type of game imaginable. Although most games are played solo, competitive gaming events are also held on the site.

Can a company be an Amazon affiliate?

Although the vast majority of Amazon's subsidiaries fall under the umbrella of "eCommerce" rather than "retail," the latter category is still used interchangeably to describe the former. Because Amazon sells hundreds of thousands of items, it would seem logical that anyone willing to promote Amazon's wares would qualify as an official Amazon Affiliate.

However, if you're wondering whether or not you can actually become an Amazon affiliate yourself, rest assured that this is possible. After all, Amazon encourages affiliate marketers to sign up through their marketplace and earn commissions on the sales generated by their referrals.

If you decide to join their affiliate network, Amazon will send you an email inviting you to register. Once registered, you'll receive emails detailing special promotions you can participate in and promotional materials that you can download. From there, you can start promoting Amazon's products, earning 50% of whatever you generate as a result.

While becoming an Amazon affiliate certainly sounds appealing, there are a number of factors to consider beforehand. Firstly, you must first learn how to optimize your landing page, otherwise you won't be able to attract visitors. Secondly, you need to ensure that your audience finds your product valuable enough to click-through to your landing page. Lastly, you must provide value to your readers once they arrive.

Once you master these three steps, Amazon will reward you handsomely. According to reports, Amazon pays top earners upwards of $10 per sale. It seems that everyone wants a piece of the pie, considering there are literally tens of thousands of active Amazon affiliates today.

What other companies does Amazon own?

Aside from the aforementioned subsidiaries, there are quite a few other companies Amazon currently owns outright. Here are a select few:

Alibaba Group Holding Limited: Alibaba is China's biggest ecommerce store, boasting an enormous collection of products ranging from electronics to clothing to furniture. Aside from serving Chinese citizens, the company also partners with international brands like Uniqlo and H&M to cater to foreign markets.

Whole Foods Market, Inc.: Founded in 1978, this chain of supermarkets boasts locations nationwide. Its flagship location opened in Austin, Texas in 1980, after receiving approval from the city council. Today, it serves approximately 400,000 residents daily.

Hoover Company: Hoover is a manufacturer of commercial cleaning equipment, specializing primarily in industrial vacuums. The company began operations in 1922 and remains headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Polaris Industries Corporation: Polaris is a leading producer of snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, boats, and related accessories. Their headquarters are located in Fort Collins, Colorado.

AOL: AOL is an American internet media conglomerate founded in 1994. While it originally focused solely on publishing news websites, it eventually expanded to include numerous entertainment properties like IMDb and TechCrunch.

Citrix Systems, Inc.: Citrix develops technology that enables remote workers to connect to their desktops and applications securely and seamlessly. Founded in 1983, Citrix is based in Santa Clara, California.

Echo Dot Kids Edition: Echo Dot Kids Edition is an Alexa enabled smart speaker aimed at children aged 3 to 8 years old. It features multiple parental controls and voice recognition skills tailored towards younger audiences. Designed exclusively for kids, it retails for $99.95.

Flex: Flex is a subscription service for professional stylists, barbers, fitness trainers, and massage therapists. Launched in 2016, Flex caters to professionals working outside traditional brick and mortar establishments.