Walmart supports experiential delivery with metaverse storefronts
Walmart is blurring physical and virtual with a new series of immersive shopping offerings tied to its real-life "Walmart Delivers" mobile pop-ups.
Earlier in August 2025, the discount giant launched Walmart Delivers, which transforms five of its delivery trucks into experiential experiences that will stop at a wide range of events. The trucks are packed with interactive experiences, customizable giveaways and a curated assortment of items that visitors might not expect Walmart to have.
All items are shoppable via QR code on Walmart.com or the app. Now, the retailer is introducing a wave of immersive virtual storefronts in Walmart Realm, its 3-D virtual shopping environment curated by digital influencers and built upon the Emperia metaverse platform in partnership with Sawhorse Productions.
In a post on his official LinkedIn account, Justin Breton, head of brand partnerships and emerging experiences at Walmart, said the new Walmart Realm storefronts are "rooted in the cultural movements inspired by and shaping Gen Z and Gen Alpha."
The first storefront will feature a K-pop theme, followed by immersive shopping environments built around Lo-Fi Playing, Rodeo Dreams, Nature Breaks and Group Woosah.
This Walmart Realm refresh is in support of Walmart Delivers, which in turn is designed to bring the retailer's new "Who Knew?" campaign to life. Launched in June, the campaign is designed to challenge consumer perceptions about Walmart and emphasizes the breadth of its merchandise and services.
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Walmart Realm (Source: Justin Breton/LinkedIn). -
Walmart Realm (Source: Justin Breton/LinkedIn).
On Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, the Walmart Delivers K-pop pop-up will be at the BabyMonster concert in Chicago. According to data cited by Breton, Walmart is pursuing this youth-focused omnichannel strategy because Gen Z commands more than $360 billion in spending power in the U.S., 47% of Gen Z are engaging in immersive digital experiences and 70% of younger consumers prefer fun shopping experiences.
Other Walmart Realm promotional campaigns have included a back-to-college shopping experience offered in July 2024, as well as a December 2024 holiday update which included four virtual shops inspired by social trends from Pinterest and TikTok, with gifts and holiday ideas curated by influencers.
[READ MORE: Walmart updates metaverse shop for holiday season]
"By blending cultural relevance, interactivity, and delivery convenience, Walmart Realm and Walmart Delivers are redefining what it means to shop at Walmart,” Breton said in the LinkedIn post. “We’re transforming us into a go-to destination for premium, trend-driven products that meet customers where they are. And no matter what they're into, we get it, we have it, and we can deliver it. Who knew?”
