A lucrative if relatively unknown side business for Amazon.com is powering the online websites of other major retailers.

The partnerships began at the height of the dot-com boom ten years ago, when Amazon had established an early lead in e-commerce and bricks-and-mortar companies were looking for ways to sell their goods online.

Initially, some retailers opted to maintain “store fronts” on Amazon’s own site. Later, Amazon also provided fulfillment and website management services for some retailers’ new separate sites, including Target.com and the UK’s Marks & Spencer, through its enterprise services business.

Now Target has decided to end its relationship with Amazon. Read more