After much speculation, online retailer Amazon this week released a statement confirming that it is bringing its retail offer down under, although the timeline and other details remain vague.
In a statement released yesterday (April 20), Amazon said: “Amazon Web Services launched an Australian region in 2012, we launched a Kindle store on amazon.com.au in 2013 and we now have almost 1,000 employees in the country.
“The next step is to bring a retail offering to Australia, and we are making those plans now.
“We are excited to bring thousands of new jobs to Australia, millions of dollars in additional investment, and to empower small Australian businesses through Amazon Marketplace.
“We are optimistic that by focusing on the things we believe customers value most – low prices, vast selection, and fast delivery – over time we’ll earn the business of Australian customers.”
Amazon’s Australian website has also been updated with details about Amazon Marketplace – a sales and logistics platform that enables third-party sellers to sell new and used offerings alongside Amazon’s regular offerings.
“Since 2000, Amazon has been helping businesses increase sales and reach new customers,” the website says. “Sales through Amazon Marketplaces now represent 50 per cent of all items sold on Amazon websites globally. There are already thousands of Australian businesses selling their products on existing Amazon Marketplaces. We are excited to bring the Amazon Marketplace to Australia next.”