Amazon earnings jump

Amazon.com saw earnings jump 30% in the first quarter on strong sales growth, and a better-than-expected sales forecast may cool some worries that the online retail giant could get pinched by the slowing economy, reports Market Watch.

However, the results also raised concerns about low profit margins that have long dogged Amazon, pushing the company's shares down 5% after hours on Wednesday.

Provenco and Cadmus shareholders have approved a plan to combine the companies - both of which have suffered heavy losses in the past 18 months, says Stuff.

Chief executive designate of ProvencoCadmus, Jim Doyle, is promising a smarter, more specialised approach from the newly merged payment technology company.

Doyle, a former chief executive of GPS technology company Navman, said Provenco had spent a lot of money chasing massive deals in end-to-end petrol station retail automation systems. Instead of trying to supply the whole system, the newly merged company would specialise in a couple of parts, such as the outdoor payment terminals and the forecourt control system.

Tasmanian-based retailer, Pets Domain, plans to double in size in the next six months, putting a lot of pressure on the company's manufacturing supply and warehousing capabilities, states Computerworld Australia.

The provider of pet food, accessories and products opened its first store in Tasmania 19 years ago but now has plans to open eight new stores in Victoria and South Australia by December.

To accommodate the rapid expansion interstate, the company has appointed Melbourne-based IT company, Retail Directions, to provide its retail management system.

Pets Domain MD Jason Van Peelen said its first store used an off-the-shelf IT solution but as the company began to grow, realised it would need a more specialised retail system.