Monday (Nov. 13) reports from business news source The Age announced Amazon has confirmed plans to expand its marketplace offerings into Australia.
While no official word has come down about the official date of the Amazon Australia launch, analysts have reported expectations that the it will be ready for the Christmas shopping season. Some have predicted the Australian version of the eCommerce platform will be ready in time for Black Friday or Cyber Monday retail sales.
“We have the long-term ambition to be successful and to earn the trust of Australian companies and the Australian customer,” said Rocco Braeuniger, Amazon’s Australian country manager during a suppliers’ summit held in Sydney. “We will be focusing on listening to the Australian customer, inventing on behalf of the Australian customer [and] delivering a great customer experience.”
Products sold to the Amazon Australia consumer base will be fulfilled by an Australian Amazon warehouse, in addition to third-party partner retailers, according to Braeuniger.
The Australian marketplace launch is projected to be similar to launches in European markets, marked by a wide variety of product offerings, various delivery options and more — all of which can be built up and bolstered over time. Amazon’s more intricate offerings, like Prime Now or AmazonFresh, will be introduced once the company’s launch in the region gains traction.
“The biggest growth at the moment in retail sales is coming off online, so this is the right time to be putting out an Amazon,” noted Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the Australian Retailers Association.
Braeuniger told suppliers’ summit attendees that thousands of third-party sellers have already registered to sell their goods on the Australian version of the eCommerce marketplace, and that the new market would focus on such sellers when it launches.
Amazon is currently converting a nearly 26,000 square foot Melbourne warehouse into its first fulfillment center in time for the holiday rush.
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