We all love a mooch on Amazon every once in a while and, let's face it, many of us most likely have got one or two products saved in our shopping basket at any given time. It's a magical place for online shopping and its sheer volume of products baffles us all year in year out. With deals dropping left, right and centre each and every day on items of all shapes, sizes and needs, from DIY tools and cleaning products to the latest mascara, it is one giant, wonderful smorgasbord of things you never thought you needed - not to mention its Black Friday sales have us in a choke-hold thanks to our undying love of a bargain.
But did you know Amazon has been around for 25 years this year? To celebrate its anniversary, not only is the company offering £5 off all orders when you spend over £25 (use AMAZONUK25 as the voucher code at checkout) for one day and one day only - Friday, September 15 (until 11:59pm) - but it has also unveiled the top 25 most popular products that captured the hearts and interest of the UK since 1998. And some of them may surprise you.
At 8am on Thursday, September 14, some of Amazon's best buys over the last 25 years were revealed on Amazon's Quiz of 25 Years on the brand's YouTube channel which was hosted by comedian Tom Allen and featured Babatuìndeì Aléshé, Judi Love, Sam Thompson, and Dani Dyer on the panel. The panellists were put through their paces as they competed to uncover the nation’s shopping habits and guess the most popular products since 1998, when Amazon began, from books and music to beauty and fashion. We're talking crocs, Mamma Mia!, Adele's albums (all of them), Call of Duty, Harry Potter, Bananagrams, Maybelline mascara and much more.
Speaking about this milestone celebration, Amazon's UK Country Manager, John Boumphrey, said: "Amazon arrived in the UK 25 years ago, and a lot has changed since then. We have evolved from being an online bookseller in 1998, to offering customers millions of items including tech, toys, food, fashion, films, music and lots more. We have seen popular products stand the test of time and some trends come and go, but we know that some things don’t change – customers will always want good prices, wide selection and fast, convenient delivery options, and we look forward to delivering this for the next 25 years and beyond."
We've had a gander at the top 25 lists across Amazon's most popular categories and can share just some of what's up there as the crème de la crème of the shoppings site over the last quarter century.
In the wonderful world of (physical and e-) books, its top 25 of all time list spans decades and includes the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsy, which was published in 1925, Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird (we all remember that from GCSE, don't we?), which was published in 1960 and Charlie Mackesey's The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse.
When it comes to many young person's favourite past time, video games, classics like the Crash Bandicoot franchise and Grand Theft Auto are listed amongst Amazon's top 25 alongside the iconic The Sims, Just Dance and The Last of Us.
In the category of toys and games, children's toys but also ones more tailored to adults (... we mean card and board games) are in the list. While its including the likes of iconic toys such as the 1974 Rubik's Cube, Monopoly and Jenga, it's also got Aquadoodle Peppa Pig Water Doodle Mat, Orchard Toys Match and Spell Board Game and CRAYOLA Washable Paints.
Make up and hair products that have stood the test of time as well as a few newbies made the top 25 beauty products of all time and we want all of them. Burt's Bees 100 Percent Natural All-Weather, for example, has been going strong since 1991 and made the cut alongside NIVEA's Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Power Firming Day Cream SPF 15 (the brand itself has been running since 1911). With five star reviews across the board, it's no surprise that Maybelline's Mascara also got named as well as leading skincare brand CeraVe's Hydrating Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin and Dots for Spots Pimple Patches.
Now, we know there's Amazon music and the likes of Spotify for all to listen to, but people still very much love to buy an album soundtrack (sometimes even a CD) and some that are included in the top 25 of all time are basically all of the Adele's albums, Susan Boyle's I Dreamed A Dream, Elvis' If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and, a true nostalgic icon: Now That's What I Call Music!.
As for the top overall products of all time (well, of all of Amazon's time that is) the reliable Amazon own brand's product, the trusty Echo Dot - which is currently on sale at £34.99 - the happiness inducing DVD (who buys DVDs anymore?!) of Mamma Mia! and Crocs are some of the nations favourite ever Amazon products.
Now if you're after other super sales to shop this weekend, Argos have a HUGE home sale, where savvy shoppers can get a third off selected items.
John Lewis & Partner's ANYDAY items are always at a low, low prices - and you can find everything you need for your home, wardrobe and more.