Warm-up
- Which online retailer is your favorite ?
- Do you think it is viable to expend you company in the current economic climate?
- Do you use e_reader like Kindle?
- Would you prefer to own shares in Amazon or HTC?
Vocabulary
diverge--to move or extend in different directions from common point.
flaunt--to show your money o,success,beauty.etc.so that ather notice it -used to show dispproval
retail-- the sale of goods in shops to customers ,for their own use and not for selling to anyone else.
quaeter--a period of three month,used especially when discussing business and financial matters.
jolt--s sudden shock
counterbalance-to have an equal and opposite effect to sth such as a change ,feeling ,etc
blow--an action or event that causes difficulty or sadness for someone
revenue--money that a business or organization receives over a period of time,especially from selling goods or services
Reading
Retail giant Amazon has announced a shocking loss of US$7 million in the second quarter of 2013.Not even a 22% jolt in sales could counterbalance rising operating expenses.This came as a blow to shareholders,beause the same company had made a profit of US$7 million in the same quarter back in 2012.The company spents billions in growth into new areas and even thouth revenue rose to about US$3 billion,the company couldn't recover their losses.
Amazon has always invested its profit into expansion of the company.Recently the company has diverged into movie streaming and Kindle e-readers,The lasted expansion was service that provided grocery delivery in certain areas of the world.The company flaunted an increase in sales in North America but not in Europe. European sales didn't live up to expetations due to a lack of consumer confidence.Despite the drop in profits,Amazon shares are still sought after(追棒).
Discussion
- Why do you think Amazon did better in America than in Europe?
- Why did Amazon have such an increase in operating expenses?
- How did Amazon's profit compare to the second quarter last year?
- What do you think of Amazon expansion into grocery deliveries?