Walmart Unveils Holiday Strategy: Easier Shopping Every Day

Retailer will wow customers with simplified shopping experience and
enhanced eCommerce offering; Predicts more than 210 million visits to
its mobile app over holiday season

BENTONVILLE, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–America moves from candy corn to candy canes November 1 and Walmart is
ready. The retailer has been combing through data, predicting trends and
preparing for the holiday season for more than a year. Today, it is
summing up its plan for customers: easier shopping every day. Walmart is
promising customers low prices and one-of-a-kind convenience on a
product assortment hand-picked based on current customer trends.

The excitement begins this Sunday as Walmart kicks off eight weeks of
deep savings and holiday retailtainment. With more than 140 million
customers each week and an expected more than 210 million visits to its
app in November and December – up from 18 million in 2013 – Walmart is
forecasting the most integrated holiday shopping season ever. Powered by
more than 4,500 stores, millions of additional items online and a
best-in-class fulfillment network, the retailer will serve customers
like only Walmart can.

“I want customers to be in awe when they see what we have to offer as
they walk into our stores or click around our site. Our managers have
made a lot of progress to improve the shopping experience before the
holidays and our merchants made sure we have the right products in
stock. We’re delivering the prices customers expect, but we’ve taken it
up a notch,” said Judith McKenna, chief operating officer, Walmart U.S.
“Our Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Walmart.com
will be a powerful combination for customers this holiday season – trust
me.”

In a post on Walmart’s blog, McKenna said high-low retailers and pricing
games have led to frustrated holiday shoppers who second-guess their
purchase decisions throughout the season. Walmart’s playbook to win
starts with doubling down on its everyday low price promise through the
season, coupled with an on-trend assortment and new tools for seamless
shopping like never before.

• Honest, Low Prices All Season Long: The retailer promises more
  Rollbacks that last at least 90 days on everything from electronics to
  baking essentials, and fewer “this weekend only” holiday offers. These
  savings will last all season long and are backed by Walmart’s Ad
  Match Guarantee and Online Price Match. If customers find a lower
  price, Walmart will match it.
• Free, Easy Pickup with New Mobile Check-in: Nearly 75
  percent of traffic to Walmart.com
  is expected to come from a mobile device this holiday season. To
  better serve the growing number of shoppers who order online and pick
  up in stores, Walmart is rolling out Mobile Check-in. Customers can
  check in using their phone when they arrive to pick up their online
  order. And new Pickup branding in stores will help guide customers
  more quickly to the Pickup service area. Pickup is always free at any
  Walmart store or Neighborhood Market.
• Scan and Shop with Wish Lists: For the first time, customers
  can scan items in store to build a Wish List or search for someone
  else’s list by using the Walmart app.
  The new feature makes giving and getting the perfect gift faster and
  easier.
• Top Trends and Products: Based on data and insights from adults
  and kids through Walmart’s “Chosen By You” program, the retailer
  bought deep in popular categories and items, including:
  • Pop Culture Favorites: Expected top sellers include
    Star Wars, Minions, Jurassic Park and Paw Patrol licensed
    merchandise along with a new kitchen collection by The
    Pioneer Woman only available at Walmart.
  • Toys: With help from hundreds of kids, Walmart
    merchants identified the top
    toys of the season. In addition to adventure and action toys,
    other trends tie to personas: foodies and chefs, animal lovers and
    designers.
  • Seasonal Décor: Walmart Christmas Shops in stores
    and online will offer a wide range of holiday decorations and gift
    giving supplies. Cashmere artificial trees are back and aisles are
    full of creative ways to personalize décor and customize any gift.
    Gold and natural colors are on trend for ornaments, while metallic
    is the new look for wrapping paper.
  • Tech: From wearables to tablets, Walmart is stocked
    with top brands at unbelievable prices, like an Apple iPad Mini 2
    for $199.
  • Food: Walmart is ready for holiday
    gatherings and each of the 63 everyday meals remaining before
    the new year. On-trend food flavors include black forest, mocha
    and peppermint. Walmart will offer its lowest prices on holiday
    ham in years, and its bakeries will sell two pumpkin pies every
    second in November.

  “Our customers are looking for great deals no matter how they shop with
  us – whether in store, online or on their mobile device,” says Fernando
  Madeira, president and CEO, Walmart.com.
  “We’re building digital capabilities so it’s faster and easier for them
  to find the right items at the right prices, and get them delivered
  quickly to their door or to a store.”

  Walmart’s holiday approach follows a number
  of initiatives rolled out earlier this year to accelerate digital
  innovation, bridge in-store and online shopping, improve inventory
  management and make Walmart stores cleaner, faster and friendlier.
  Efforts like a billion dollar investment in associate wages and
  training, the opening of five new fulfillment centers and an emphasis on
  fresh food are paying off.

  For more information, visit Walmart.com.

  About Walmart
  Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people
  around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in
  retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, we
  serve nearly 260 million customers who visit our 11,504 stores under 65
  banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With
  fiscal year 2015 revenue of $486 billion, Walmart employs more than 2
  million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in
  sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity.
  Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com
  on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart
  and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.
  Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com
  and http://www.samsclub.com.

  Contacts

  Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  John Forrest Ales, 800-331-0085