Amazon Struts Its Goods With Fashion Photo Studio

Amazon has a stake in selling just about everything under the sun, so it may be no surprise to see the eCommerce behemoth taking a stroll into photo-worthy fashion.

As TechCrunch reported Thursday (July 23), the company has just opened up a new photography studio in London. “Studio” might seem a misnomer given the size of the space, which at 46,000 square feet and encompassing 22 photo bays, is among the largest in Europe, according to Amazon. The goal is to help the company create more than half a million images of clothes to be added to its sites annually.

TechCrunch stated the studio, which has been leased from the London transport authority, has been around for more than a century, dating back to 1850. The company has maintained that it will add roughly three dozen jobs to the London economy, with additions at “seasonal peaks,” according to the TechCrunch story. The development will also feature editorial suites and video editing capabilities.

Amazon has been vocal about its intent to leverage its eCommerce strengths into fashion, with new initiatives especially prevalent in Europe, focusing on the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain. Last year the company added more than 100 brands to its platform — a roster that spans Hugo Boss, Gucci watches, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s and others.

TechCrunch reported that Amazon’s decision to open a studio helps the company sell more merchandise through its own platform, with an added push as third parties also get visual space (and sell more) on the company’s site. And fashion on Amazon does seem to turn heads and click “buy” buttons, as the company noted that between April and June 2015, it sold over 30 million fashion products in Europe, though as TechCrunch noted, “as is often the case with Amazon, it does not say how that translates into dollars.”



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