The Amazon logo has an interesting history. Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 under the name “Cadabra”. Realizing the name sounded like “cadaver”, Bezos wisely changed it to “Amazon” a year later, after the Amazon River. Originally, Amazon only sold books, but within two months it was selling books in 45 countries and earning $20,000 per week.
Logo Evolution
The logo has gone through many changes over the years, but some key elements have persisted. The original logo in 1995 featured a stylized letter “A” meant to resemble the Amazon River. This emphasis on the river and the idea of flow carried into later versions. The current logo, introduced in 2000, features an arrow connecting the letters “A” to “Z”, symbolizing that Amazon sells everything from A to Z. The arrow also represents a smile, emphasizing Amazon’s customer commitment.
Symbolism and Impact
While the logo has evolved visually, founder Jeff Bezos has preserved aspects of the original meaning. The flowing line still conveys the diversity of products available, just as the river itself contains an immense diversity of life. Overall, Amazon’s strong branding has helped propel it into a global powerhouse worth over $1.7 trillion.