Is Amazon looking to give Ulta a run for the money?

Amazon on Thursday announced that its Prime Now ultra-fast delivery service has added its first beauty store.



Prime members in Chicago can now order beauty and personal care products from Merz Apothecary, a 100-years plus Chicago retail institution, and have the items delivered to their door in as little as one hour.



"We have thrived in business for 141 years by focusing on our customer needs, and we believe Prime Now is a natural extension of this customer-centric approach,” said Anthony Qaiyum, owner of Merz Apothecary. “As the owner of an independent, family-run business, I am especially excited for us to be able to combine our unique products and our expertise in our field with Amazon's unrivaled delivery operations. I think it is a recipe for customer satisfaction and business growth."



In Chicago, Prime Now currently offers tens of thousands of items from Amazon in addition to local restaurant and grocery delivery. There are more than 180 local restaurants available through the service in Chicago. The service also offers delivery from local grocery stores Eataly and Plum Market.



"Merz Apothecary is a family-owned, iconic destination in the Windy City and we think customers will love the convenience of superfast delivery of thousands of beauty items,” said Simoina Vasen, director of Prime Now. “We are excited to launch this new product offering in Chicago with such a beloved local brand.”