Colorado

When Amazon opened its store to independent sellers 25 years ago, it created new possibilities for businesses across the country. One of many amazing examples that symbolizes this opportunity is Bluecorn Beeswax who grew from a mountain-town startup into a significant employer that’s building both national success and local prosperity.

For the Cross family, the great outdoors has been a way of life for generations.

Their small, family-owned business, Sun Company, has been designing and manufacturing high-quality outdoor gear for camping, hiking, and survival from their Colorado headquarters since 1971. What started as a single zipper thermometer product in the 1970s has blossomed into a thriving venture with a global reach—and Amazon has played an important role in that growth.

Since partnering with Amazon eight years ago, Sun Company has averaged 20-25% year-over-year growth and expanded its product line from that original zipper thermometer to over 150 items, including compasses, altimeters, and survival gear—all while maintaining the company’s Colorado roots. All manufacturing and assembly is done in Wheat Ridge, just outside of Denver.

In 2017, Colin McIntosh was laid off from his tech startup job and just three weeks later, he was channeling his 9-5 energy into launching his own company, Sheets & Giggles. The serial entrepreneur saw it as an opportunity to turn his passion for creative, sustainable products into a full-fledged business: a “[silly] pun-based bedsheets company.”


The key to Sheets & Giggles’ rapid growth? If you ask McIntosh, it’s not his irreverent brand identity and ambitious mission to disrupt the stale home goods industry, it’s partnering with Amazon.

Tucked away in the foothills of Colorado, Preservation Solutions is making waves in the world of specialty wood care products through its treatment that helps prevent cracking and warping in fresh-cut wood. Founded in 1994 by chemist Dale Knobloch, the company has evolved from a small regional player to a fast-growing ecommerce business, thanks in large part to its partnership with Amazon.

Features like Brand Analytics, A+ Content and Amazon Advertising have helped the company present a cohesive brand image and effectively reach its niche audience of woodworkers, furniture makers, and hobbyists, said Caleb Kimbro, the company’s Amazon marketing specialist.

“For every dollar we spend [with Amazon Advertising], depending on the product, we get anywhere between 3-5x of our money spent,” he added. “When you really go into it and work on your bids and your keyword negation, you can find your specific customers and what they’re looking for.”

They were recently voted best travel wallet and named the number-one ski pass holder by one of the biggest ski resorts in Colorado—but that’s not what FLEXX ID owners Harold and Mauritha Hughes are most proud of. They’re excited about the public service professionals that now have access to their versatile wearable ID holders and wallets through diversity certifications.

With Amazon Business, their certifications help agencies and organizations with government supplier diversity initiatives find FLEXX ID, which allows the Hughes to help the very people their product was designed to support.