Amazon on recruitment drive to fuel growth plan

Amazon UK managing director Christopher North said Amazon aims to bolster its buying, merchandising and supply chain.

He said: “We’re growing all the key functions at head office. We’re in growth mode and are investing in our future.”

The etailer is also opening two new distribution centres in Rugeley, Staffordshire and Dunfermline in Scotland this year to facilitate growth, which will require an additional 1,800 staff.

North said the UK investment was indicative of a wider trend at Amazon and put a quarterly dip in the online giant’s profits down to the outlay across the group.

In the quarter to June 30, group profit fell 8% to $191m (£161m) on sales up 51% to $9.91bn (£6.05bn) – the highest rate of growth in more than a decade said North.

Amazon UK’s fashion store was one of its best performers. North said the UK business was following the performance of private Sales sites MyHabit.com, which Amazon launched in the US last quarter, and Spanish business BuyVip, acquired last year, and that the model could be brought to the UK if successful.

The online retailer today acquired Pushbutton, a business which develops applications for interactive television and connected devices.

Amazon vice president of European retail Greg Greeley said: “Pushbutton has a strong reputation for delivering amazing user experiences on connected devices. They were instrumental in helping launch the Lovefilm player through a variety of devices, and we look forward to helping them continue to innovate on behalf of customers.”