Amazon originally sold books when it launched online.
Jeff Bezos founded the company as an online bookstore in 1994, and the website began operating in 1995. Books were a practical starting category because an online retailer could offer far more titles than a typical physical shop, while customers could search a large catalog from home.
The company was initially named Cadabra, Inc., then became Amazon. It soon expanded beyond books into music, video, electronics, household products, and many other categories. Amazon Web Services, advertising, logistics, and subscription services later became major parts of the business.
Amazon's first-category story is distinct from its later identity as a broad marketplace. It did not begin as an online grocery or electronics company, although those categories eventually became important to its operations and revenue.