Since the rise of eCommerce over the last five years, Walmart.com has sold items only found in its brick-and-mortar stores. However, to keep up with the unwavering success of Amazon marketplace, Walmart launched Walmart Marketplace in an effort to open up the Walmart.com platform to third-party sellers allowing for millions of products to be sold by third-party vendors.
Statistics report that Walmart will represent 7.2% of all US ecommerce sales in 2021 and will reach $67.39 billion. Moreover, services like curbside pickup, drone delivery, and new Walmart+ prescription benefits are investments the company is critical to Walmart customer retention.
With all products, including groceries and prescriptions, available at the touch of a button, Walmart is focusing on improving efficiencies in order to compete with Amazon and Instacart.
Massive Growth – The Numbers
- Revenue of $559.15 billion, up 6.7% compared with $523.96 billion for the previous fiscal year.
- For its 2021 fiscal year, Walmart’s online sales grew 79%, while its online sales also grew 69% in its Q4.
- Sales on the Walmart marketplace and pickup and delivery sales were up year over year by triple-digit percentages.
- In the grocery segment, pickup and delivery saw record-high sales volumes.
- Walmart now offers pickup of online orders at roughly 3,750 stores and same-day delivery at about 3,000.
- In the U.S. Walmart.com customers spend an average of $1,000 per year at the website.
Walmart eCommerce & Third-Party Sellers
As Walmart eCommerce continues to grow, the company is investing heavily in the eCommerce space, with third-party sellers being a able to take a piece of the pie, selling everything from home goods, kitchen goods, toys, games, baby products, beauty products and even food, with categories similar to those on Amazon’s marketplace. Walmart automation is now a timely business opportunity and many savvy sellers are looking to earn a piece of the market share.
How to Apply for a Walmart ECommerce Store
While the application process is somewhat more detailed with more documentation required, potential sellers should have the following:
- Your U.S. Business Tax ID Number
- W9 or W8 and EIN Verification Letter from the Department of Treasury that verifies your US business address or place of physical operations
- Planned integration method for your product catalog (bulk upload, API, solution provider)
- Primary product categories, catalog size and related information (e.g. total SKUs you will be selling on Walmart.com initially with verified UPC information, and used vs. refurbished etc.)
- Be sure to check Walmart’s catalog of prohibited products from Walmart’s Prohibited Products Policy
- History of marketplace or ecommerce success
As Walmart’s momentum continues to grow, brands are increasingly looking to sell their products on the platform.
