US department store chain Macy’s is making a play for the UK as it opens up its website to customers here

The retail giant has launched international shipping for its ecommerce sites Macys.com and Bloomingdales.com, providing delivery to 91 countries in Europe, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, the Middle East and South America.

Its move mirrors the ecommerce strategies of UK department store groups such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and John Lewis, which deliver to markets where they have no store presence.

Macy’s said non-US customers account for 8% of the 36 million visits to Macys.com last year. The website offers most items to international shoppers, except furniture, cosmetics and some exclusive clothing lines.

Macy’s has been trialling the offer in the UK, Australia and Canada for several weeks but the formal roll-out was launched on Monday using technology that detects the shopper’s country of residence, converts US prices into local currencies and works out sales taxes and customs duties.

Macys.com president Kent Anderson said: “International shipping will enable Macy’s to build upon its existing customer base. It also provides Macy’s with a global platform on which to build our reputation as a source for great fashion.”

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