After threatening in December to launch a China-based retail website to allow Australian customers to shop GST-free, Myer has pushed the button on the experimental site with the online shop going live this morning.

Called myfind.com, the site is supported by a back office in Hong Kong and China that will offer a range of clothes, housewares and other merchandise to Australian shoppers and then fill those orders offshore.

As is the case with popular foreign retail websites such as Amazon.com and eBay.com, the goods will then be posted to Australia - but because they are coming from offshore, all purchases below $1000 will be GST free.

The myfind.com website does not carry the Myer logo and is being positioned by the department store owner as a specialist offering from within the group, similar to Qantas's creation and advertising around its low-cost airline Jetstar.

Late last year Myer boss Bernie Brookes triggered a national debate over the leakage of sales to the internet, complaining that it was extremely difficult for traditional bricks-and-mortar shops to compete with online purchases that are GST free if below $1000.