Amazon has ramped up its plans to make its mark on the physical retail sector, as it prepares to offer try-before-you-buy furniture stores.

The New York Times has reported that the ecommerce giant is considering building stores for customers to test big purchases like furniture and appliances, which people are reluctant to buy on the internet.

Alongside this, the retail giant is understood to be looking into VR and AR offerings at its new homeware stores, allowing shoppers to visualise how the items will look in their homes


READ MORE: Amazon acquires Dubai-based ecommerce site Souq


Electronics stores in the vein of Apple have also been rumoured to be in the works, stocking its own-brand electronic items like the Amazon Echo.

Amazon recently opened its fifth physical store in Chicago, with a further five in the pipeline.

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