Amazon starts preparations to launch in Sweden (updated)
04/08/2020 15:35
(Adds comment from Amazon's partner in Sweden and analyst
comments)
Aug 4 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc AMZN.O has started
preparations to launch in Sweden, marking its first step to
establish a local presence in a Nordic country.
Swedish customers can already shop on Amazon through its
websites in other European countries such as Germany, and get
their purchases shipped to the country, but this often meant
paying high delivery charges.
"We are optimistic that, by focusing on the things we
believe customers will place the greatest emphasis on - low
prices, a wide range and fast deliveries - we will eventually be
able to win the trust of Swedish customers," Alex Ootes, vice
president for EU Expansion at Amazon, said on Tuesday,
The Swedish website amazon.se was still directing customers
to amazon.de with an option to deliver to Sweden. Amazon has not
released a date for the launch of the website, a spokesman said.
Amazon did not say if it would create a warehouse or
distribution hub in Sweden but Ootes said: "The next step is to
introduce a complete retail offering in Sweden and that is what
we plan to do now".
Logistics group Kuehne and Nagel KNIN.S told Reuters it
was building a contract logistics facility in Eskilstuna, about
100 km west of Sweden's capital Stockholm.
The probable entry of Amazon into Sweden has been talked
about for years and could represent a challenge to local
players.
Daniel Ovin, senior analyst at Nordea, said that based on a
report written in October autoparts, sporting goods and general
merchandise would be the most exposed sectors after an Amazon
entry in the Nordics.
Ovin added that retailers in United States, Britain, Germany
and France that have adopted successful strategies to meet the
challenge from Amazon have turned to premium products, sharpened
their delivery mechanisms, increased private labels or added
brands that were not sold on Amazon.
Shares of budget DIY and homewares retailer Clas Ohlson
CLASb.ST , fashion specialist Boozt AB BOOZT.ST , and e-books
seller Storytel STORYb.TE edged lower.
(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee and Simon Johnson in
Stockholm, with Tommy Lund in Gdansk
Editing by David Holmes and David Evans)
((supantha.mukherjee@thomsonreuters.com; +46 8 502 423 84;
Reuters Messaging:
supantha.mukherjee.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))