Photo: RetailWire
Amazon.com last week began offering one- and two-hour delivery of beauty products under its Prime Now service.
The launch took place in Chicago in a partnership with Merz Apothecary, a family-owned Chicago institution with three locations that has been in business for 141 years. Becoming Prime Now’s first beauty brand, Merz Apothecary will support the delivery of personal care, beauty and natural health products in as little as an hour. One-hour delivery costs $7.99 and two-hour is free.
“We think customers will love the convenience of superfast delivery of thousands of beauty items,” said Simoina Vasen, director of Prime Now, in a statement.
Anthony Qaiyum, owner of Merz Apothecary, said Prime Now is a natural extension of its customer-centric approach. He added, “As the owner of an independent, family-run business, I am especially excited for us to be able to combine our unique products and our expertise in our field with Amazon's unrivaled delivery operations. I think it is a recipe for customer satisfaction and business growth."
Launched in Chicago in July 2015, Prime Now offers tens of thousands of items from Amazon in addition to local restaurant and grocery delivery. More than 180 local restaurants are now available through the service in Chicago. Amazon also offers delivery from local grocery stores Eataly and Plum Market.
If relationships with other beauty brands are further rolled out, Amazon could put pressure on beauty specialists such as Ulta, Sephora and Sally Beauty Supply as well as drug store chains.