Amazon is expanding beyond its consumer-facing business by launching AmazonSupply, a new site that offers 500,000 products to industrial and commercial customers.
Originally known for selling books, the Seattle company is adding 14 new categories, including "test, measure and inspect," "janitorial and sanitation," "office," "cutting tools and hydraulics," "pneumatics" and "plumbing."
The categories go way beyond the stock carried by Office Depot and Staples, and will likely compete against other online- or catalog-based suppliers. AmazonSupply inventory includes hand dryers, drill bits, printer paper, cash registers and many more-obscure products.
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