Amazon Australia has launched a new program to help Australian startups bring their products to market. Called Amazon Launchpad, the program allows select small businesses to access to a range of Amazon’s services such as customer engagement tools and unlimited shipping with Amazon Prime. Here are the details.
Amazon has launched a new program to help Australian startups and small businesses bring their homegrown products to market.
Called Amazon Launchpad, the service helps Aussie startups use Amazon’s retail expertise and infrastructure to share their stories and grow their businesses.
Businesses who join the platform will receive custom product pages on the Amazon site that showcase their items through video and gain access to Amazon’s tools for engaging with customers. It also gives them access to Amazon’s local “fulfilment” network and unlimited shipping with Amazon Prime.
The new platform is a sign of Amazon giving a helping hand to smaller businesses, off the back of research — commissioned by Amazon Australia and conducted by researcher AlphaBeta — indicating more than two-thirds (68%) of small to medium businesses plan to grow their business through online sales channels but a fifth (21%) of them aren’t confident in using digital tools.
Businesses surveyed cited lack of understanding and skills when it comes to implementing digital tools, and the cost of developing an e-commerce channel as the main obstacles to business growth.
Amazon Australia country manager Rocco Braeuniger said Australian inventors and entrepreneurs were responsible for innovative consumer products such as the electric drill and Vegemite.
“We’re excited to work with the next-generation of local entrepreneurs on bringing their innovative products to millions of customers — from Lyre’s Non Alcoholic Sprits Co, through to sustainable swimwear brand, Salt Gypsy from Byron Bay,” he said in a statement.
“We know that product creation is only one part of the equation in launching a product and that marketing, logistics and finding an audience can be just as challenging. With Amazon Launchpad, we have a program that will help ease some of these challenges for startups and entrepreneurs alike, allowing them to focus on growing their businesses and freeing up time for future innovation.”
Braeuniger added that Australian customers will be able to show their support for local businesses by getting their hands on some homegrown products through the site.
More than 150 local and international brands will feature on the Launchpad site such as Australian sugarfree drink brand Nexba and Melbourne-based sunglasses brand Soda Shades.
Beach House Group co-founder Lance Kalish, who is a participant in Launchpad, said his brand development company reaped success when using Amazon Launchpad in the US.
“We are excited to ‘return home’ and bring our products to Aussies from skincare to stationery via the Australian Launchpad store,” Kalish said in a statement released by Amazon.
The launch comes on the back of Amazon’s success during Prime Day on July 15-16 – an annual sales event the company holds around the world.
Retail Doctor Group founder and CEO Brian Walker told Business Insider Australia the sales event generated US$2 million in Australia.
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