Amazon heads Down Under

The Australian retail marketplace is in for a huge shake-up.



Amazon is preparing to operate an online store in Australia, offering the country’s consumers access to more categories. Amazon already sells Kindle e-books and readers, Audible audiobooks, and online shoppers can also download apps, but this move will bring “a retail offering to Australia,” according to the e-retailer.



This will be welcome news for Australian shoppers who previously ordered other merchandise categories on Amazon’s Marketplace — a global marketplace for third-party sellers. Currently, more than 1,000 Australian companies sell their wares on the platform.



However, this service forced shoppers to wait nine to 12 days for orders arriving with standard shipping, and pay hefty shipping rates, according to The Seattle Times.



Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of Amazon entering the Australian marketplace and providing local ordering and delivery of goods. A statement confirmed that Amazon is now ready to take the “next step to bring a retail offering to Australia, and we are making those plans now."



Australia is also not new territory for Amazon. The company established roots Down Under in 2012, when it launched its cloud-based Amazon Web Services, and built more momentum when it debuted a Kindle Store on Amazon.com.au in 2013. Approximately 1,000 employees manage these operations.



Looking ahead, “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,” according to the retailer.



To support its new operations, the online giant is also shopping for warehouse space — a 93,000 square m (Australian) depot — in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, according to Business Insider Australia.



While the site’s launch date is not set in stone, it could debut as soon as July, according to the report.