This Is What Amazon Used To Look Like

JBRogerThat Published 12/02/2017 in ftw

I have an endless addiction to Amazon. I order snacks online. My pillow covers? Amazon. Even last night when I realized I needed some new hemorrhoid cream, I decided to order a big tube online rather than walk into a local pharmacy and relieve my pain.

Although at times I feel lazy by deciding to order online instead of heading into a store, I'm not alone. e-Commerce is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, to a point where even stubborn giant Sears eventually caved and started selling inventory online.

But it wasn't always that way. Amazon had a rough road early on, back when its website looked like it was from Geocities, and it mostly sold books.

See for yourself.

Amazon Website In 1994

This is where it all began. Oh nelly. That logo looks like something I made in my middle school graphic design class, but I'm not judging. Nice color scheme, bro.

Amazon Website In 1997

Within a couple years it had a proper storefront. Notice the emphasis of books and basic HTML design. It would push the whole "Earth's Biggest Bookstore" slogan pretty hard in the late 90's as it tried to take on Barnes & Noble face first.

Amazon Website In 1999

You might be familiar with this design even if you're a younger person, because it didn't change much in the five years that followed. This is definitely much more professional than what it had in 1997, but still underwhelming by today's standards.

Video Of Amazon's Office In 1999

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was featured in a 60 Minutes segment back in 1999 that showed the company's humble beginnings. This is all I've been able to find that shows what the company's office looked like before the turn of the century. Don't expect too much beyond a bunch of rows of cubicles.