Amazon. com Inc. said it acquired Australian e-commerce company Selz, in a deal that increased focus on fast-growing rival Shopify Inc. underlined.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. An Amazon spokeswoman said the deal, which Selz announced on its website about a month ago, has been finalized and nothing will change for Selz’s merchants or their customers.
Founded in 2013, Selz serves as an online platform that helps small and medium businesses start up and maintain their online business. According to data company PitchBook, the private company employs more than 30 people. Past donors have included Macdoch Venture and Adcock Private Equity, PitchBook said.
Amazon has stepped up its efforts to rival the fast-growing Shopify, which also helps small merchants create online stores. Last year, Amazon created a secret team called “Project Santos” to replicate some of Shopify’s business model, The Wall Street Journal reported in December.
As the pandemic has made online shopping more popular, brick-and-mortar stores have invested more in their e-commerce presence. By some estimates, the sector will grow by 50% in 2020.