Wal-Mart launches new online marketplace

Bentonville, Ark. Taking aim at Amazon.com, Wal-Mart Stores has launched an addition to its online business that features nearly 1 million new items from other vendors.

The new program, called Walmart Marketplace, has products from a wide range of categories, including home, baby, toys, apparel, sporting goods and sports memorabilia. The company said it selected the participating vendors -- the retailers picked so far include eBags, CSN Stores and Pro Team -- because they have large product assortments and solid customer-service track records.

The chain plans to add more vendors later.

"We've added nearly 1 million new items to our online assortment with the introduction of Walmart Marketplace, making it even easier for customers to find more of what they want when shopping Walmart.com," said Kerry Cooper, Walmart.com's chief marketing officer. "Working with select retailers, known for their strong customer service and large online assortments of new merchandise, gives our customer more reasons to choose Walmart.com when shopping online."

In an Associated Press report, retail consultant Burt Flickinger III said Wal-Mart can use online sales as an area for growth, especially considering how the company's stores have saturated much of the U.S. market.

"This gives Wal-Mart a chance to close the widening gap with Amazon.com and Apple," Flickinger said. Apple has knocked off Wal-Mart as the top music seller.