Switzerland Does Not Have Amazon – The Alternative Is Actually Better.
Switzerland Does Not Have Amazon – The Alternative Is Actually Better.
Yes, better than Amazon.
TLDR;
Amazon was there first and aced their “First mover’s advantage.”
Can you imagine a world without Amazon? I can.
I live in an Amazon-less country, and the alternative is pretty good.
Galaxus, The Swiss Amazon, serves a small chunk of people but does it right.
Amazon's "First Mover's Advantage" — The Global Giant
Amazon, the behemoth of e-commerce, perfected the concept of "first mover's advantage” like no other. It became a household name worldwide and set the standard.
You know the story—From an online bookstore to a trillion-dollar company that is growing non-stop.
They didn’t only ace e-commerce. They also dominated the cloud market. But here’s the thing: there’s as necessary as you’d think.
A World Without Amazon? Welcome to Switzerland
For those of you who don’t know me, I live in Switzerland. One of the first questions that my visiting friends ask is, “Oh, I’ll order it from Amazon.”
Then, I have to deliver the news that Amazon does not exist in Switzerland. It exists in Germany, and you can order from it. But it isn’t the go-to Swiss option.
Yes, there’s an alternative. Not only that, it might actually be better.
Galaxus: The Swiss Answer to Amazon
That alternative is called Galaxus. It’s Switzerland’s own e-commerce marketplace. It may serve a tiny population compared to Amazon's global reach, but it does it right.
In a nutshell, if you’re used to Amazon and moved to Switzerland. Give it a few months, and you’ll get used to Galaxus.
What Amazon did to the world is that they made a precedent. They created an e-commerce experience like no other. That Swiss alternative replicated the experience and filled up their warehouses.
Quality Over Quantity: The Galaxus Edge
Sometimes, mentors and investors tell you that you should focus on your niche. What if that niche is one of the richest people? Galaxus thrives on a formula that emphasizes quality over sheer volume.
For the Swiss consumer, this isn't just an alternative; it's a preferred choice, showcasing that the first mover’s advantage or the market-dominant player could have a replicated experience.
But remember — It’s an ant compared to Amazon and probably always will be.
Focusing on a geographical market and serving their needs is a good strategy. But Amazon is not just about that. Amazon is a conglomerate, which is more of a fact.
Yes, focus on your neighborhood.
Yes, give them amazing quality.
Yes, unfortunately, you’re also limited by them.