Walmart, Target to compete with Prime Day
Two of Amazon’s biggest rivals will host summer blockbusters that just happen to overlap with Amazon Prime Day.
Amazon has announced that its Prime Day 2025 promotion will take place from Tuesday, July 8 – Friday, July 11. This marks the first time Prime Day, which has been a two-day event since 2017, will last four days.
[READ MORE: Three signals from a four-day Amazon Prime Day]
For the past several years, Walmart and Target have hosted their own summer sales blockbusters that are timed to compete with Prime Day. Here is a look at how each retailer is taking on Prime Day this year.
Walmart Deals
Walmart’s Sam’s Club warehouse club subsidiary was the first major retailer to reveal a summer promotion that countered Prime Day. Now Walmart is offering its Walmart Deals event, launched as a digital-only sale in July 2024, for six days spanning Tuesday, July 8 – Sunday, July 13.
New in 2025, Walmart Deals will be available both in stores and online. Members of the Walmart+ subscription loyalty program will have exclusive early access to Walmart Deals offers beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, July 7.
In 2023 and 2024, Walmart offered Walmart+ members their own dedicated seven-day promotion known as Walmart+ Week. It is not yet clear whether there will be a Walmart+ Week this year or if it is being replaced with the early access offer,
“From barbecues to back-to-school, we know this is a busy shopping season for our customers, which is why we’re excited to bring back the Walmart Deals event,” said Megan Crozier, executive VP, general merchandise, Walmart U.S. “As customers look to save on both the items that they want and need this season, this summer’s event will feature a wider selection of products including wellness finds and everyday essentials. We also know families are continuing to shop earlier for the new school year, so we’ve brought back deals on first-day essentials to help customers save more when it matters most.”
See a list of sample Walmart Deals discounts here.
Target Circle Week and back-to-school discounts
Target Corp. is also bringing back a summer sales blockbuster it launched in 2024 – Target Circle Week. Running Sunday, July 6 – Saturday, July 12 in stores and online, the event is exclusively available for members of the free Target Circle and enhanced paid Target Circle 360 loyalty programs.
Target Circle 360 members will receive early access to Circle Week deals starting Saturday, July 5. The promotion also features a number of special perks for students and teachers, including a one-time 20% off storewide discount for verified college students with Target Circle starting Sunday, June 29; a one-time 20% off storewide discount with Target Circle for teachers from Sunday, July 20 – Saturday, Aug. 30, as well as access to curated classroom sets and wish list tools; and a 50% discount on Target Circle 360 membership through Saturday, Sep. 13.
The retailer is also offering students and teachers a number of other special discounts this summer. They include maintaining its 2024 prices on key back-to-school items, special prices on back-to-college items, the launch of a Champion back-to-school apparel collection in August, and several other new and expanded back-to-school assortments from national brands as well as the private label Target Plus brand.
"This is such an important time for everyone preparing to head back to class — or heading off to school for the first time," said Rick Gomez, executive VP and chief commercial officer, Target. “The Target team will be there for families by holding last year's prices on key school supplies and standing tall for unrivaled style, quality and exceptional value. We're proud to be a part of back-to-school and back-to-college traditions. And across our assortment, we have great prices on everything needed to get the new school year off to a great start."
