Amazon Japan is considering letting other retailers sell products on its Web site in a bid to draw more customers, a company official said yesterday.
The Japanese unit of Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc is mulling offering products in addition to those selected by Amazon, according to company spokeswoman Misao Konishi.
Currently, Amazon's Japan unit, which opened in November 2000, sells books, CDs, home electronics and other products.
By inviting other retailers to sell their products on its Web site, Amazon Japan can charge them commission and expect to attract new customers.
It would also allow Amazon's Japanese operation to expand its product lineup and challenge competitors such as Rakuten Inc and Yahoo Japan Corp, which also sell products online.
The company is planning to launch a virtual shopping mall by the end of the year allowing other retailers to sell goods such as clothes and food products, Japan's largest daily, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported yesterday.
Konishi said that nothing has been decided on when and what kind of products Amazon will start offering.
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