The News-Press 27
November 8, 2018
Amazon 4-Star store opens at Park Meadows Location features products rated four stars or higher, area’s trending items BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Shoppers can go from browsing the latest technology to state-of-the-art cookware to the top-selling books in one brief stroll around the Amazon 4-star outlet store, the newest attraction at Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree. Amazon 4-star opened Nov. 1 and is an assortment of products found on Amazon.com rated at four stars or better. Real customer reviews and average online ratings, up to five stars, accompany product price tags. Some displays are advertised as “Trending in Denver,” marking the placement of products with high online popularity from Denver-area shoppers. Other displays are labeled “Frequently Bought Together” and “Most Wished-For,” popular categories when shopping on Amazon. “It’s all about product discovery at a place like this,” said Cameron Janes, vice president of Amazon 4-star. “These products are on Amazon. com, but you’re not often exposed to them because you’re searching for your specific thing. Here, we make it really easy to discover something for yourself or for gifts, and because ev-
The Amazon 4-Star store is made up of products with at least four-star ratings. Some products are curated specifically to products that trend well online in the area. NICK PUCKETT
erything makes that curation bar, you don’t have to worry about if it’s a good product. They’re all good products.” Danny Kim and his family, who live in Littleton, are frequent shoppers on Amazon.com. His wife and his son, Maximus, walked around the new store on its opening day impressed with the variety of products they loved online. The Kims stopped to let Maximus try out some of the hottest toys. “It’s a chance for us to get our hands on the stuff,” Danny Kim said. “It’s
more convenient than getting something, then having to wait for it and return it if we don’t like it. If you really like something you can get it.” Amazon 4-star is just the second of its kind in the United States. The first Amazon 4-star opened in New York in September. The space at Park Meadows was initially reserved for an Amazon Books store, another brickand-mortar Amazon shop, of which there are 17 in the country, focusing mostly on books and tablets. According to Amazon officials,
the company changed its mind and brought a 4-star instead. Evelyn Scott, a local librarian and Park Meadows shopper, was surprised to see an Amazon 4-star, but said she thinks the store will be useful when trying to find gifts for her granddaughter. Scott said she is an Amazon Prime member and will still likely shop online primarily. Scott said she thinks the store would be helpful to test out newer products. “I think it’s interesting that we’re heading so much toward technology and things online, but then we come right back to people still want to touch and see it,” Scott said. The store also features Amazon’s flagship products like the Kindle e-book reader, Kindle Fire tablet and Ring, an easy-to-use front door security camera. Amazon Prime members are offered a discount price, which matches the product’s online price. Products in the store are constantly changing, Janes said, reflecting changes in local trends or seasonal products. Janes added that a product is immediately pulled off the shelves if it fails to meet at least four stars online. The curation process is done by Amazon employees. “They’re looking at those products that are selling well and are highly rated and using some human judgment as well. There’s some art and science involved as well,” Janes said. “We’re constantly curating the store and making sure it lives up to the name on the front.”
Holiday
Craft Show and Mini-Market Admission is free to the public Saturday Nov. 24
10am - 5pm
Sunday Nov. 25
10am - 4pm
Jefferson County Fairgrounds
15200 W. 6th Ave. Golden, CO.
Come shop for unique gifts and special items during the first-ever Colorado Community Media Holiday Craft Show and Mini-Market; With more than 100 exhibitors filling the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, this is the best place to find that special, personal gift for friends and family. The show will feature handmade crafts in all areas from metal and leather, to flowers, baskets, ceramics, and so much more.
Santa will be at the Holiday Craft Show! Saturday, Nov. 24 between 10 AM – 2 PM No purchase required: Take your own photos
Vendors Needed | Interested in selling your handmade crafts??
Contact Event Producer Thelma Grimes at tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com All applications must be approved to participate