Amazon is making huge physical bets in defiance of the retail apocalypse

Amazonhas becomesynonymous with online shopping.But the online giant is increasingly moving into the physical world, opening spaces in malls, shopping districts, and even local strip malls. It's a move that signals the company's ambitions are larger than ecommerce.One reason that may be, an anonymous sourcetold CNBC, is that Amazon is seeing online sales go up in areas that have physical stores. Brick-and-mortar stores increase customer awareness of the brand, and it's extra fuel for the Amazon engine.Here are all the ways that Amazon has expanded into the physical world so far.SEE ALSO:Amazon has triggered a $5 billion bidding war ' here are the 50 cities that are in competition for its new HQIt acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion.Amazon's acquisition of natural foods store Whole Foods is the big one to mention here.Whole Foods was already a national chain with more than 450 stores, but with the power of Amazon behind it, it has thepotentialto be something even larger. Changes like selling the Amazon Echo, installing Amazon Lockers, and lowering prices are all already under way.It struck a partnership with Kohl's, where it will be selling Amazon devices and accepting returns.Kohl'swill start accepting Amazon returns at 82 stores in Chicago and Los Angeles in October.The returns will be free, and they won't need to be packaged before drop-off.Ten stores will also feature an "Amazon smart home experience" with a separate section selling Amazon devices like the Echo.It introduced an updated version of the vending machine.Amazon also has a line of bookstores for college campuses, which it operates in conjunction with each school.In addition to offering books and supplies for students, it also has a special Amazon Locker device service called Amazon Instant, where attendants stuffitems from the store into the slots, ready to be picked up by customers in a way that's similar to a vending machine.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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