Amazon Seller App, Mobile Device Use Helps Spur Global Sales
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Amazon has announced that sellers on Amazon sold more than 2 billion items worldwide in 2014, setting a new record for sales. In 2014, Amazon also introduced the Amazon Seller App to facilitate the management of sellers’ business on Amazon via their mobile devices. And sellers from more than 100 different countries were able to fulfill orders on Amazon to customers in 185 countries by using Fulfillment by Amazon services.
“it’s been a record-setting year for selling on Amazon,” said peter Faricy, VP for Amazon Marketplace. “The growth of mobile and the introduction of the Amazon Seller App have also been a big win for sellers this year. Sellers are constantly telling us that they value the flexibility of managing their businesses on-the-go from their tablets and mobile devices.”
In 2014, a number of top brands and vertical retailers also became sellers on Amazon, including Aeropostale, Claire’s, Quiksilver, Hanna Andersson, Roxy, Wilson’s Leather, Warner Bros. Shop, HBO Shop, The History Channel, Cardinal Health, Owens & Minor, and Ducati.
Amazon also expanded Sunday delivery through the U.S. Postal Service to thousands of cities nationwide, enabling FBA items from sellers to reach customers on Sundays and shorten delivery wait times.
Many FBA offers from sellers are now also available for same-day delivery in 12 metro areas.
And Amazon Payments launched a Growth Guarantee for businesses that adopt Login and Pay with Amazon that allows businesses can trial the service risk free for 30 day. If they have not seen an increase in sales, Amazon will refund their fees on up to $100,000 in transactions..
Amazon Local Register, a mobile app and secure credit card reader, also launched in the U.S. enabling individuals and small businesses to accept credit and debit cards from a smartphone or tablet at an industry-leading low, flat rate with no hidden fees or long-term contracts.
And Amazon Payments enabled select businesses that use Login and Pay with Amazon as an online checkout option to offer Amazon Prime members special benefits from their sites.
International growth is also a key priority for Amazon, and the company's expanded recruitment for sellers in emerging regions such as Australia, South Korea and Singapore reflects this goal. The firm also expanded its Amazon Currency Converter for Sellers (ACCS) service to cover eight currencies including the Euro, British Pound, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Indian Rupee and New Zealand Dollar.
"[T]here are now more than a billion offers for customers to browse from sellers who are listing items for sale outside their home country," said Peter Faricy, vice president for Amazon Marketplace, said in a statement. "The growth of mobile and the introduction of the Amazon Seller App have also been a big win for sellers this year."