Myer to Expand E-Commerce Horizons with New Marketplace
A prominent Australian department store operator, Myer, is poised to significantly broaden its e-commerce repertoire through the launch of an innovative marketplace platform set for introduction in the coming months.
Scheduled to debut in May, Myer’s meticulously curated marketplace will be powered by the expertise of Mirakl, a renowned e-commerce and dropshipping provider headquartered in Paris and Boston. Mirakl is also responsible for the successful marketplaces of other retail giants such as Bunnings and Country Road Group.
Myer’s existing online platform, which premiered in 2017, enabled third-party merchants to market their products on myer.com.au, marking an early foray into digital retailing.
Notably, during the first half of fiscal 2026, marketplace sales surged by an impressive 9.3 percent. Myer embarks on a journey beyond traditional retail with a new online marketplace launching in May.
Recently, Myer announced the addition of Samsung as a marketplace collaborator, as disclosed by Executive Chair Olivia Wirth during an earnings briefing on Tuesday.
“This is a domain where we have yet to explore,” Wirth remarked.
She reflected on Myer’s historical inventory, stating, “In the past, we had a broader range of electrical and telecommunication products. That is no longer the case. This initiative affords us a means to re-enter that market.”
The new marketplace will capitalize on the company’s well-regarded Myer One loyalty program, which boasts a formidable 5.1 million active members, as asserted by Wirth, a former head of the Qantas loyalty initiative.
Myer’s marketplace represents a strategic opportunity to incorporate large and cumbersome items into its offerings, including prams and cots alongside baby apparel, or mattresses complementing towels and bedding, according to Wirth. The upcoming e-commerce expansion allows Myer to feature more substantial products online.
“Myer has established a robust brand presence in the home category. The marketplace enables collaboration with new partners, expanding our assortment and solidifying our position in the broader home goods market,” she elaborated.
For example, Christmas trees will be available on the marketplace starting at $89.
“Without the marketplace, we would have been unable to penetrate the lower price segments, yet we observed that customers were inclined to trade up,” Wirth noted.
Myer remains vigilant in monitoring customer engagement right from the moment they land on the website, she added.
In the six months leading to January 24, the group’s overall sales rose by 24.5 percent, reaching $2.28 billion, largely attributed to the acquisition of five clothing brands from Premier Investments. Myer’s half-year profits have escalated, although the results did not fully satisfy investors.
The integration of the newly acquired brands—including Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dottie, and Jacqui E—proceeds apace.
Excluding this apparel acquisition, Myer’s sales recorded a modest increase of 2.1 percent compared to the same timeframe last year.
The company reported a statutory net profit of $40.3 million, exhibiting a substantial rise of 32.8 percent following the inclusion of contributions from the new apparel brands.
In the initial seven weeks of the second half of the fiscal year, sales witnessed a 1.7 percent increase compared to the corresponding period last year.
Myer will distribute a fully franked dividend of 1.5 cents per share.
As of midday, Myer shares had dipped by 3.4 percent to 28 cents.
Source link: Aapnews.aap.com.au.
