Walmart Marketplace Expands Rapidly with New Categories, Multichannel Solutions, and Omnichannel Innovations for Sellers

Today at the Let’s Grow! 2024 Walmart Marketplace Seller Summit, Walmart leaders introduced several new initiatives to thousands of sellers. Key announcements from the summit included an expansion of product categories, enhancements to multichannel fulfillment, and new features designed to streamline the selling process across different markets.

“Walmart Marketplace is evolving beyond just a platform. We’re bringing all the elements together to create more opportunities for sellers to reach customers as we grow together.”

Walmart Marketplace, recognized as one of the fastest-growing eCommerce platforms, continues to invest in tools and solutions to support seller success while providing customers with an extensive selection of products.

“We’re executing strategic initiatives at Walmart that position us as the top choice for customers, no matter the season or product category. Walmart Marketplace plays a crucial role in that mission,” said Tom Ward, executive vice president and chief eCommerce officer, Walmart U.S. “We understand the importance of personalized, seamless omnichannel experiences. With today’s new categories and features, we’re advancing our digital and fulfillment capabilities to enhance the overall experience for both customers and sellers on Walmart.com.”

Over the past four quarters, Walmart Marketplace has experienced more than 30% sales growth, significantly contributing to Walmart’s ongoing eCommerce success. Last year, Walmart’s global eCommerce sales exceeded $100 billion, with the U.S. eCommerce business posting double-digit growth for six consecutive quarters. This momentum is driven by innovative customer experiences and an expanding assortment as more independent sellers choose Walmart as a strategic growth platform. In the last fiscal year, the number of sellers listing products on Walmart.com grew by 20%.

Expanding Product Categories: Premium Beauty, Pre-owned, and Collectibles

To provide more options for customers and new opportunities for sellers, Walmart is expanding its Marketplace offerings by introducing Premium Beauty products and expanding its range of Collectibles and pre-owned merchandise.

  • Premium Beauty: Walmart is launching Premium Beauty on Walmart Marketplace with a new online experience featuring over 20 brands, including COSRX, T3, and Beachwaver. This curated selection of skincare, haircare, and hair tools is backed by custom storefronts and editorial content, offering a seamless and elevated brand experience. The addition of Premium Beauty to the Marketplace solidifies Walmart’s position as a leading beauty destination, enhancing customer trust through direct and approved sellers.
  • Pre-Owned: Walmart Marketplace is introducing “Resold at Walmart,” its first digital destination for cross-category and cross-condition pre-owned items from performance-managed sellers. With five million items from over 1,700 sellers, the growing assortment offers customers a wide range of goods, from luxury fashion and electronics to collectibles and sporting goods, all at Walmart’s value pricing. This initiative aligns with Walmart’s commitment to sustainability by extending the life of these products and builds on the success of Walmart Restored, a collection of refurbished electronics and small appliances.
  • Collectibles: Walmart is enhancing the shopping experience for collectors, offering new ways to acquire highly sought-after items and connecting sellers with a rapidly growing market of enthusiasts. Sellers can now enable preorders for collectibles, including Walmart-exclusive releases. The experience also introduces pre-owned conditions for collectibles under the “Resold at Walmart” initiative. Eligible sellers can benefit from 0% commission fees on collectibles through October 31, covering categories like action figures, trading cards, sports memorabilia, and more.

Unmatched Omnichannel Experiences: Supercenters and Super Sellers

The integration of Walmart’s digital and physical channels provides a unique advantage for Walmart Marketplace. No other marketplace can match Walmart’s broad customer reach, physical proximity, and seamless integration of digital and physical convenience.

Earlier this year, Walmart connected Marketplace tire sellers with its Auto Care Centers at 2,300 Walmart Supercenters, allowing customers to order tires online and have them shipped to a local Supercenter for installation. Additionally, over 4,600 Walmart stores nationwide now accept Marketplace returns.

Walmart previewed “Walmart LocalFinds,” a new initiative that bridges the gap between online and offline shopping by offering direct pickup and delivery from sellers’ physical stores. This program, launching this fall in Atlanta and Dallas, allows customers to discover local sellers’ merchandise through Walmart’s digital channels. Partnering with Walmart’s last-mile delivery network, Walmart LocalFinds will enable fast deliveries and connect shoppers with local businesses. 1-800-Flowers.com Inc., a leading provider of online floral and gift services, is the first nationwide seller to participate, offering hundreds of local stores the chance to join Walmart LocalFinds as it expands.

New Fulfillment Solutions

Walmart continues to leverage its advanced supply chain and technology to simplify fulfillment for sellers, offering some of the lowest rates in the industry. Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) announced new options for sellers to efficiently move merchandise across markets and fulfill eCommerce orders.

  • Multichannel Logistics: The new Multichannel Solutions program allows sellers to use WFS to fulfill orders from any eCommerce site via Walmart’s supply chain. This service includes plain, unbranded packaging, fast shipping, and competitive rates averaging 15% lower than the competition. The program launches on September 10, just in time for the holiday season.
  • Cross-Border Fulfillment: Walmart’s new Cross-Border import service enables WFS to handle inbound shipments from ports in Asia directly to WFS facilities across the U.S. Additionally, Walmart is opening its carrier network to sellers for full truckload shipments, offering special rates through the Walmart Preferred Carrier program.

Preparing for the Holiday Season

To support sellers during the holiday season, Walmart is introducing several new solutions and perks. Last year, Walmart Marketplace achieved its two biggest sales days ever during the holiday season, driven by millions of customers shopping on Walmart.com. The investments and enhancements, shaped by seller feedback, include:

  • A reimagined Global Seller Center and new app for seamless onboarding, allowing eligible sellers to cross borders and sell in the U.S., Mexico, Chile, and Canada. Sellers attending Let’s Grow! 2024 will be the first to access the new cross-listing capability and free translations.
  • Walmart is waiving peak season storage fees for sellers who send their inventory to WFS fulfillment centers by September 30, encouraging early inventory preparation for holiday shopping.
  • Walmart Marketplace Capital is expanding, offering qualified sellers access to cash advances of up to $5 million to help scale their holiday business.
  • A new Deals Dashboard allows sellers to easily enroll items in Walmart’s deals events, with features that provide more data and insights to improve offer quality and increase deal availability for customers during the holiday season.

“Sellers are seeking smart growth opportunities,” said Manish Joneja, senior vice president of Walmart Marketplace and Walmart Fulfillment Services. “We’re bringing all the elements together to go beyond just being a marketplace and investing in new ways for sellers to connect with customers as we grow together.”

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