Books-A-Million launches online delivery with Walmart
The nation's second-largest bookstore chain is teaming up with a well-known partner to enter the fast online delivery space.
Books-A-Million is introducing same- and next-day delivery across its 231 locations nationwide. Leveraging the Walmart white-label GoLocal “delivery-as-a-service” platform, Books-A-Million will roll out same- and next-day delivery in the coming weeks across its 231 locations nationwide, starting with its Southeast and Midwest markets. The retailer already offers buy online, pickup in store (BOPIS) and free curbside pickup options.
How it works
Customers will place an order online at booksamillion.com and select the "same-day delivery" option during checkout. The order will then be picked up by a delivery driver and dropped off at the customer's desired location. Orders placed before 3 p.m. will be delivered same-day, and orders placed after 3 p.m. will be delivered next-day on tens of thousands of products that are in stock in a nearby store, including all top-selling books, toys, games, and collectibles.
Walmart GoLocal – a primer
Walmart initially launched its white-label GoLocal “delivery-as-a-service” offering in October 2021. The managed service platform provides nationwide delivery capabilities on a range of products, including those with size and complex requirements, as well as the flexibility to meet varying timelines.
The discount giant built the service on the existing infrastructure supporting the Express Delivery same-day delivery service it rolled out in 2020. This includes drones, autonomous vehicles and market fulfillment centers.
Walmart said at the time of launch it planned to rapidly expand GoLocal to offer additional services. So far, these have included a partnership with e-commerce platform provider Cogentry Labs to provide an integrated white-label, turnkey e-commerce delivery solution to mid-sized and independent grocery retailers; as well as a collaboration with Delivery Solutions as a last-mile delivery service provider.
Walmart’s initial GoLocal managed delivery partner was home improvement giant The Home Depot. Specialty apparel retailer Chico’s FAS has also partnered with Walmart GoLocal.
“There's nothing better than curling up with your favorite book or exploring a new world for the first time. We're excited to introduce this new delivery offering with Walmart GoLocal, which will make it easier for customers to order their favorite books and have their favorite stories at their fingertips," said Olivia McDaniel, VP of marketing at Books-A-Million.
"As retail and consumer preferences continue to evolve, we're thrilled to be bringing our customers this added convenience and serve them in new ways, McDaniel said. "Utilizing all of our stores nationwide for online delivery and fulfillment allows us to offer a fast, convenient and frictionless delivery option for our customers and is essential to our omnichannel transformation.”
"We're eager to hear customer feedback and are excited to enhance the e-commerce shopping experience. Ahead of the holidays, there's no better time to introduce this offering and make it easier than ever for our customers to shop with us," said Pete Zophy, senior VP of e-commerce at Books-A-Million.
"It's more important now than ever for retailers to meet customers where they are and offer a seamless e-commerce experience," said Eliza Wendel, senior director and head of sales and business development at Walmart GoLocal. "We're looking forward to powering Books-A-Million's same- and next-day delivery offering and helping them deliver for their customers."
Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Books-A-Million operates more than 200 stores in 32 states as well as its e-commerce site, Booksamillion.com.