Amazon launch predicted ahead of Black Friday sales

AMAZON could go live in Australia as early as today with the US retail giant poised to take advantage of Black Friday shopping sales.

It is understood most of the goods going online today through the Amazon.com.au site will be tech and electrical goods, as well as some major clothing brands. From next Tuesday, more local manufacturers and clothing brands are expected to be available on the Australian site.

Some sellers who have signed up to Amazon’s Australian platform received an email this week telling them that the retail giant will kick off an “internal testing phase” at 2pm AEDT today and they should be prepared to receive orders. They were told they could also temporarily disable their account if they preferred. The email was signed off “Let’s Make History”.

Queensland clothing brand Adrift expects to start selling through Amazon’s Australian site next week.

Owner Bec Pullar said the opportunity to sell via the Amazon marketplace would be an important addition to her rapidly growing business, which began wholesaling in February and also launched in the US recently.

“While it will be an entirely new channel for Australian shoppers, we think the broad appeal of Adrift in catering to women of all ages, shapes and sizes with accessible price points will make for an interesting proposition to customers on that platform who might not have been aware of us previously,” she said.

The timing of Amazon’s expected Australian launch to coincide with the Black Friday shopping sales tomorrow was predicted by many analysts.

The Friday after the Thanksgiving Day holiday is the busiest shopping day of the year in the US, and it has gained momentum in Australia in recent years.

IBISWorld senior industry analyst Kim Do said the arrival of Amazon would undoubtedly shake up the retail sector.

She said it was predicted the retail giant would challenge domestic retailers by offering prices up to 30 per cent lower.