Walmart overhauls marketplace with resale, logistics support
Walmart Inc. is offering a range of new features to sellers on its third-party marketplace.
At its annual "Let’s Grow! 2024 Walmart Marketplace Seller Summit," the discount giant announced new offerings including a resale storefront, expanded categories, and several fulfillment and logistics services. Highlights follow:
Resold at Walmart
Walmart is introducing “Resold at Walmart,” which for the first time offers used items from third-party sellers. According to Walmart, the assortment currently includes five million items from more than 1,700 sellers across a wide range of categories.
The retailer is building on its Walmart Restored storefront for third-party refurbished goods, initially launched in 2022.
[READ MORE: Walmart appeals to inflation-weary shoppers with refurbished goods program]
Multichannel fulfillment
The retailer’s hosted Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) platform’s new multichannel solutions program allows sellers to use WFS to fulfill orders from any e-commerce site via Walmart’s supply chain. Walmart will fulfill orders and manage returns while offering plain, unbranded packaging with fast shipping and what it says will be competitive rates averaging 15% lower than the competition. Walmart is launching the program on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in time for holiday deliveries.
Walmart is also opening its carrier network to sellers for full truckload shipments. Sellers using the Walmart Preferred Carrier program through WFS can now choose to ship a few items or an entire truckload at special rates through carriers vetted by Walmart.
In addition, Walmart previewed Walmart LocalFinds, which uses the retailer’s last mile logistics network to connect shoppers with local businesses through Walmart’s digital channels.
The service launches fall 2024 in Atlanta and Dallas, with other cities to follow. 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. will be the first nationwide seller to participate, with other local stores having the opportunity to join as it rolls out to their towns.
Premium beauty
Walmart is launching a new premium beauty assortment on Walmart Marketplace. More than 20 new brands, including COSRX, T3 and Beachwaver, are featured in the initial offering of skin care, hair care and hair tool products, which also includes custom storefronts and editorial content.
Collector shop
A new dedicated collector shop enables sellers to offer preorders to build customer anticipation for drops, including releases exclusive to Walmart. The experience adds pre-owned conditions for collectibles sold under the Resold at Walmart storefront. Eligible sellers can receive 0% commission fees for collectibles and more through Oct. 31. Collectible categories include action figures, dolls, trading cards, sports memorabilia, comic books, records, and musical instruments.
New seller solutions
Time for the 2024 holiday season and based on seller feedback, other solutions include:
- A revamped Global Seller Center and new app designed to provide seamless onboarding for eligible sellers in any market, so they can sell in the U.S, Mexico, Chile and Canada with free translations.
- Walmart is waiving peak season storage fees for sellers who inbound their inventory to WFS fulfillment centers through Monday, Sept. 30.
- Walmart Marketplace Capital is expanding to offer qualified sellers access to cash advances of up to $5 million for any qualifying seller.
- Walmart is now rolling out a new deals dashboard that streamlines the process for sellers to enroll items in Walmart’s deals events and provides sellers more data and insights.
"We’re executing strategic priorities at Walmart that are helping us to become the customers’ first choice – every day, every season, for every item," said Tom Ward, executive VP and chief e-commerce officer, Walmart U.S. "Walmart Marketplace is a key component of that mission. We know the importance of personalized, seamless omnichannel experiences, and Walmart continues to advance its digital and fulfillment capabilities, including the new categories and features we announced today, that enhance the overall customer and seller experience on Walmart.com."
According to the retailer, Walmart Marketplace has achieved more than 30% sales growth in each of the past four quarters and is helping drive double-digit U.S. e-commerce growth for six consecutive quarters. The number of sellers listing items on Walmart.com grew 20% during fiscal 2023.
