After 15 years, online retail giant Amazon reveals device-like grip on shoppers and its best-selling products in history

Its swift-delivery service has shipped millions of Harry Potter novels and Adele CDs since its launch 15 years ago. But it is actually the 8GB memory card and HDMI connector cables which have made Amazon a $120bn business, the online retailer has revealed.

To mark its 15th anniversary, Amazon.co.uk has published a list of the most popular products since its arrival first sent shudders through high-street stores. Amazon’s best-selling products in history include the Call of Duty video-game franchise, JK Rowling’s Potter novels, and the erotic Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.

However, it is the staple devices of the modern digital home which keep Amazon ticking over. Outperforming Adele in the Top 10 best-seller list are HDMI-to-HDMI gold-plated connectors (still in stock at £1.26).

Pre-release orders for One Direction’s new Midnight Memories album have made it the fastest-seller in history but the boyband have yet to outperform sales of the SanDisk 8GB memory card in frustration-free packaging (£5.49).