Walmart has added new product categories, omnichannel experiences and fulfillment solutions to its third-party e-commerce platform, Walmart Marketplace.
“We are bringing all the pieces together to be much more than just a marketplace and investing in new ways for sellers to serve customers as we grow together,” said Manish Joneja, senior vice president of Walmart Marketplace and Walmart Fulfillment Services, in a press release Tuesday (Aug. 27).
The platform’s new product categories include “Premium Beauty at Walmart,” with custom storefronts and editorial content, “Resold at Walmart,” featuring pre-owned items such as luxury fashion, electronics and collectibles from 1,700 sellers, and “Collector Shop,” which focuses on collectibles such as action figures, dolls and trading cards.
Walmart Marketplace will also offer a new omnichannel experience that connects shoppers with local retailers through Walmart’s digital channels and offers direct pickup and delivery from sellers’ physical stores. This Walmart LocalFinds offering will launch in Atlanta and Dallas this fall before rolling out to other cities.
The company also unveiled new solutions from Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), including a Multichannel Solutions program launching Sept. 10 that allows sellers to use WFS to fulfill orders from any e-commerce site through Walmart’s supply chain; a Walmart Cross Border import service where WFS handles full container load transportation from ports of origin in Asia to WFS facilities in the U.S.; and an expansion of the Walmart Preferred Carrier program that allows sellers to ship a few items or an entire truckload through Walmart-vetted carriers.
“We know the importance of personalized, seamless omnichannel experiences, and Walmart continues to evolve its digital and fulfillment capabilities, including the new categories and features we announced today that enhance the overall experience for customers and sellers on Walmart.com,” Tom Ward, executive vice president and chief eCommerce officer of Walmart US, said in the press release.
Walmart launched its third-party marketplace in 2009 to diversify its product offerings and compete with Amazon’s seller ecosystem, PYMNTS reported in September.
In its press release on Tuesday, the company said Walmart Marketplace has achieved sales growth of more than 30 percent in each of the past four quarters and that the number of sellers listing their items on Walmart.com increased 20 percent in the last fiscal year.
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