Walmart

Walmart could be making another bold move in the online delivery game.   Speaking at an advertising industry event in New York City on Wednesday, Marc Lore, president and CEO of Walmart eCommerce U.S., said that he expects the chain to offer free, same-day delivery  in New York City “very soon,” Bloomberg reported.  

Walmart is looking to expand its share of the lucrative market for baby products.   The discounter announced it is relaunching its Parent's Choice line of baby essentials with an expanded line of products and a new logo. Parent's Choice, which began 20 years ago with just baby formula, will grow to 275 items. The relaunch comes as Target Corp. has been focusing on baby with new Cloud Island baby brand, which recently added has bedding and nursery decor to its assortment.   

The nation's largest private employer is working with the country's largest social network.    Walmart has signed on to use Facebook’s Workplace enterprise collaboration platform. Launched in fall 2016, Workplace is designed to connect colleagues within a company, and allow them to message each other, share images and broadcast live videos.   

Walmart’s new grocery delivery program could give it a huge edge in the online ordering game.

Walmart has tapped a retail veteran to bolster its foothold in its growing online fashion category.   Denise Incandela was named Walmart’s senior VP, fashion, effective October 2, 2017. She will lead the fashion businesses for Walmart.com, Jet.com, and Shoes.com, according to Fashion Network. In her new role, she will report to Walmart’s chief revenue officer Scott Hilton, the report said.  

If traditional supermarket retailers want to become online destinations for grocery, they need to step up their digital shopping experiences.   In fact, shoppers rated their overall satisfaction ordering food and grocery items online highest with Amazon (4.63 on a five-point scale where five is highest), followed by Walmart (4.41). Supermarkets/food stores trailed behind with a rating of 4.32.  

Walmart is bucking the holiday hiring trend again this year.    Unlike other competitors that are hiring thousands of temporary workers to service shoppers during the holiday season, the discount giant plans to offer extra hours to its current associates. These shifts will staff traditional roles like cashier and stocker, and newly created technology-empowered positions, such as personal shoppers and Pickup associates, according to Walmart.  

Walmart and Target are among the companies pressuring political leaders to find a solution for the roughly 800,000 immigrants known as “Dreamers.”