The Japanese unit of Amazon.com is considering launching a virtual shopping mall, in a bid to snatch a share of the growing market from Web mall operators Rakuten, and Yahoo Japan, a Reuters report said.
The Reuters report, quoting the Yomiuri daily, said Amazon Japan, which currently sells goods directly to consumers via its Web site, planned to start a virtual mall later this year to allow retailers to sell products such as clothes and food on its site.
The Reuters report said Japan's $4 billion virtual mall market is expected to grow by 47 % in the next two years, according to Fuji Keizai Management.
Web-based shopping malls generate nearly 40% of total sales done on the Internet or on mobile phones in Japan, the report said.
The report said an entry into the market by Amazon Japan which boasts over 6 million users a year could likely spur a shift in sites consumers use to shop online.
Rakuten currently holds a 43% share of Japan's virtual mall market, followed by Yahoo Japan with 17%, the report said.
The virtual mall now accounts for about 30% of the products sold on Amazon.com's Web site, a spokeswoman at the Japan unit, quoted by Reuters, said.
The spokeswoman however gave no details on the virtual mall plan including launch timing, the report further said.
Amazon eyeing virtual mall in Japan
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