Walmart to redesign nearly 1,000 stores

Walmart said it tested the new concept in select stores and is “excited” by the initial feedback from customers and employees. The design will be rolled out to nearly 200 locations by the end of this fiscal year (Walmart’s fiscal year runs through the end of January), reaching close to 1,000 stores by next fiscal year.  As the new look is rolled out, the chain will "continue to get customer and associate feedback and evolve the design accordingly," said  Janey Whiteside, executive VP and chief customer officer, Walmart.

The new design features updated signage on the exterior and interior of stores that resembles the Walmart app icon. A large and very prominent blue arch — visible from across the huge parking lot — marks the  order pickup area where shoppers can retrieve their online orders. 

As customers enter the store, they are greeted with clean, colorful iconography and a store directory that encourages them to download and use the Walmart app while they shop. Throughout the interior, bold, dimensional typeface (e.g. SEAFOOD, PIZZA, DAIRY) directs customers to the exact section they are looking for. Aisles are marked with letter and number combinations to guide customers from phone to product.

“By creating a system that acknowledges our app navigation from beginning to end, we create an optimized omni experience for both customers and associates,” explained Whiteside.

The retailer said that airport wayfinding systems provided it with inspiration as best-in-class examples of how to direct large groups of people.

“We developed simple yet thoughtful designs to replicate these navigation efficiencies, which will help us move customers through the store more quickly,” Whiteside said.

Product layout has been revamped to bring greater visibility to key items throughout the store, including dedicated in-store sections for electronics, toys, baby products and more.

While Walmart has been updating its stores for the past couple of years with things such as improved lighting, nothing it has done has approached the scale and size of the redesign initiative.  

"We’re always listening to our customers and innovating our in-store, online and mobile experiences to meet and exceed their expectations," Whiteside said. "We want their time with us to be enjoyable, and we’re working hard to create ways for them easily toggle between shopping channels – or use them together."

In comments about the new design, Meyar Shiek, president and chief commerce officer of Kibo, said that Walmart continues to level the playing field against its top competitor, Amazon.

"The new store look and digital features build on Walmart’s long-term omnichannel strategy and serve as a logical follow-up to their recent Walmart+ membership announcement," he said. "The new store format, digital app and touch-less check-out features add a new level of convenience for Walmart shoppers. What's more, it further leverages Walmart's wide network of stores while seamlessly integrating the digital features and benefits shoppers want in their experiences today.”