Amazon Reveals that ‘Amazon Prime’ Orders in Canada Doubled in 2018 [Infographic]

Date:

Image: Amazon Prime

Share post:

Seattle-based retail behemoth Amazon has provided an update on the popularity of its membership-based Amazon Prime in Canada, including information about product orders as well as its various streaming services. Amazon provided a ‘Best of Prime’ infographic, located below, to illustrate.

Perhaps the most startling is the revelation that Canadians ordered more than double the products with Amazon Prime free same-day delivery in 2018 over the year prior — Amazon is clearly gaining market share with its loyalty-focused Prime initiative, at a time of unprecedented competition in Canadian retail as an unprecedented number of international brands enter the market. 

Amazon revealed that in Canada over the past year, the most gifted items from Amazon Prime were the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader, the Alexa-powered Amazon Echo Dot bluetooth smart speaker, as well as the larger Amazon Echo speaker. On ‘Amazon Prime Day’ in July, the best selling items in Canada included the Fire TV Stick and the Instant Pot 6 Qt. Amazon says that sales from small-and-medium-sized businesses far exceeded $1-billion during Prime Day in the summer. 

Globally, more people signed up to become Amazon Prime members than at any time in its history, and they ordered about 2-billion products — which isn’t surprising given how quickly Amazon Prime has taken hold of the global market. In the spring of 2018, Amazon revealed that it had more than 100-million Amazon Prime subscribers around the world, each paying fees for free and fast shipping as well as Amazon’s video, music and video-game services. 

Amazon also provided updates on the ‘most binge-watched’ original series videos on its Prime Video, as well as the most streamed music artist on Amazon Music. With its video-game ‘Twitch Prime’ offering, Amazon saw more than 50-million free game downloads — all three services are free for Amazon Prime members. 

Amazon Prime costs an annual fee of $79 in Canada (Canadian dollars), which is a bargain compared to in the US where the annual fee is US $119. Amazon has said that it will likely raise the Canadian Amazon Prime fee in the future. 

Loyalty programs such as Amazon Prime are being adopted by other retailers. Last week Loblaw announced its own program with an annual fee of $99, and Lululemon piloted a $128 loyalty fee in Edmonton this year which proved successful enough to roll it out into other markets.  

RELATED ARTICLES

Load more

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

RECENT articles

Canadian Retailers Keep Expanding as Staffing Gets Leaner

Canadian retailers continue opening stores as employment data weaken. Suzanne Sears explains leaner staffing, part-time hiring, wages and changing retail jobs.

Canada’s New Counter-Tariffs to Impact Food Sector Supply Chains

As counter-tariffs come into effect on September 8, Canadian food processors and retailers brace for economic impacts. This article explores how these tariffs could lead to shrinkflation and affect consumer prices in the near future.

Läderach expands North American presence with second location in British Columbia

Läderach has opened a store at CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver, which follows a string of successful launches across North America, including the recent openings in Connecticut at Westfarms and in Utah at City Creek Mall.

WINNERS teams up with Craig’s Cookies for nationwide in-store campaign

The campaign, called AcceptCookies.IRL, will launch in stores in Calgary, Windsor, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.

Alberta launches tariff portal for businesses

The government said the portal launches as businesses continue to assess the impact of recent U.S. tariffs and Canada's planned retaliatory measures.

Richelieu investing more than $15 million to expand Drummondville distribution centre

The project will expand the facility from nearly 40,000 square feet to 180,000 square feet and is expected to be completed in time for the expanded centre to become operational in spring 2027.

Walmart Canada, foundation commit US$250,000 to B.C. wildfire relief

The contribution comes as Walmart Canada concludes its annual fundraising campaign for the Canadian Red Cross, which raised more than $3.9 million for local disaster relief.

Daily Synopsis: Sep 4, 2026

New Lululemon CEO has uphill battle, Metro to close Montreal ecomm 'ghost store', NB appliance store stocks up ahead of tariffs, ready-to-drink cocktail brand Duchess opens 1st BC cafe, and other news.

From The Desk: Canadian Retail Navigates Expansion, Consumer Shifts, and Supply Challenges

This week in Canadian retail: store expansion, shifting consumer spending, tariffs, supply chain pressures, loyalty strategies and key industry developments.

Lululemon Cuts Store SKUs by 15% as Retailer Slows Expansion

Lululemon is cutting store SKUs by 15%, testing localized assortments and slowing net expansion while continuing to invest in Canadian stores.

Jollibee marks 10 years in Canada with promotional campaign and plans for 26 more restaurants

The Filipino fast-food chain, which opened its first Canadian restaurant in Winnipeg in December 2016, now has 28 locations across five provinces.

Massive T&T Supermarket to open in former Bay space at CF Markville

CF Markville will be T&T’s 18th location in Ontario, and it also marks the fourth partnership with Cadillac Fairview, following CF Fairview Mall, CF Sherway Gardens in Etobicoke, and CF Polo Park in Winnipeg.

Canada loses 42,000 jobs in August: Statistics Canada

Wholesale and retail trade (-55,000; -1.8%) recorded the largest decline across industries over the past 12 months.

Pilgrim Plans Canadian Expansion After Oshawa Store Opening

Pilgrim CEO Robert Hayes discusses the jewelry brand's Canadian expansion plans, new Oshawa Centre store, suburban performance, growing wholesale network and the increasing role of piercing services.

Typical expanding its reach and its stretchable towel product

Typical is now selling through The Knot, Anthropologie, and Nordstrom, while building out corporate gifting and hospitality channels alongside its DTC business.

Calgary’s Forum Thermal to open 18,000-square-foot urban spa in late 2026

With six signature pools, three saunas and two steam rooms, Forum will offer a series of interconnected experiences. 

OpenRoad Auto announces 16-acre Surrey automall development

The Surrey Auto Loop, located at 13340 76 Avenue, is being developed in partnership with Conwest Developments and will include seven lots and approximately 166,000 square feet of commercial space.

Many small businesses at risk due to trade war: CFIB

One in five (18%) small exporters and 11% of importers affected by the Canada-U.S. trade war say they would stop being financially viable if the trade war lasts three months or more.

IKEA showcases miniature homes in three cities as part of new in-store experience

Miniature homes have been installed in public locations in Melbourne, Chengdu and Beijing as part of the launch of IKEA open house, an in-store program running from late August through September.

Grocery Prices Face New Pressure as Ottawa Imposes Counter-Tariffs

Sylvain Charlebois examines how Canada’s new counter-tariffs could affect grocery prices, food inflation and affordability as Ottawa extends fuel-tax relief.