In late March, Amazon Home Services launched as a marketplace to connect customers with more than two million service offers across more than 700 professional services. The move was no surprise. Amazon wants to be a one-stop shop for consumers, and adding services is the obvious next step.
But Amazon’s method was surprising — and surprisingly smart. Instead of tackling the industry on its own, Amazon partnered with TaskRabbit to launch the new platform.
This is a departure from Amazon’s usual practice of directly taking on competitors. The partnership was a strategic move, and it offers a lesson for entrepreneurs and business leaders.