Amazon eyes Christmas trade
International online retail giant Amazon is expected to start trading in Australia today, ahead of the Christmas shopping season.
Amazon has notified its sellers that it will begin ‘‘internal testing’’ with a small number of customers from 4pm (NZ time) today, according to an email published by lifestyle and IT website Lifehacker.
The retailer has told its sellers that their products will be able to be purchased in the trial, and they should make sure their prices and stock is up to date.
Amazon confirmed in August that it would open its first Australian distribution centre in South Melbourne.
Australian operations director Robert Bruce said then that the US retail giant would stock ‘‘hundreds of thousands of products’’ at the fulfillment centre – which at 24,000 square metres is about the size of three rugby pitches – and use it to supply customers in Australia.
The company has yet to comment on whether it may also use the facility to ship products to New Zealand customers, which could mean faster delivery times and lower shopping costs for Kiwi customers.
Broker Forsyth Barr has said it would be a ‘‘logical extension’’ for Amazon to move directly into New Zealand and offer Kiwi consumers its premium Amazon Prime subscription service, which provides free two-day delivery.
That could see it build a business here worth $915 million within five years. –Stuff and AAP