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Tag: Walmart

  • Trump claims to have a deal in concept with Oracle, Walmart, and TikTok

    Trump claims to have a deal in concept with Oracle, Walmart, and TikTok

    U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters gathering to see him off to a campaign rally, that he has approved “in concept” Oracle’s bid for the U.S. operations of TikTok. The short-form video app, owned by China’s ByteDance, has been accused by the Trump administration of being a national security threat because it could pass along personal data from U.S. customers to the Communist Chinese government in Beijing. Trump signed an executive order that forced ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok’s U.S. operations this coming Monday, September 21st

    Last week, after several U.S. companies had expressed interest in TikTok such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Walmart, Oracle’s plan was given the nod by ByteDance. However, the administration felt that the plan didn’t go far enough to protect them better than 50 million active U.S. TikTok users. As a result, the U.S. said that it would ban downloads of TikTok in the states starting on Monday morning. Those who have already downloaded the app before Monday would be allowed to continue using it until November 12th unless a deal was approved by the U.S. But everything might have changed following this afternoon’s announcement. What isn’t clear at this point is what the president means when he says that a deal has been approved “in concept.”

    While things are still up in the air at this hour, Trump says that the deal will also include Walmart and hinted that TikTok would be “totally controlled” by Oracle and Walmart, something that he repeated several times this afternoon. “I have given the deal my blessing,” the president said. “If they get it done, that’s great. If they don’t, that’s okay, too.” Previously, the president wanted the companies involved in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations to make a payment to the U.S. Treasury. But such a deal would be illegal, something that Trump was not aware of. Still, the president spoke with Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison and Walmart Inc. Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon on Friday, telling both executives that he still wanted a cash payout for the U.S. government.

    A new company called TikTok Global will be created, according to those in the know, and it will help create a $5 billion fund for U.S. education. Discussing this contribution, Trump stated that “They’re going to be setting up a very large fund. That’s their contribution that I’ve been asking for.” The new TikTok Global will probably be headquartered in Texas and 25,000 people will be hired according to the president. But that figure could not be independently verified. Facebook had 45,000 employees last year while Twitter had 4,900 employees. There is speculation that TikTok Global will hold an IPO and go public within the next year. The president said about TikTok Global, “It will have nothing to do with China, it’ll be totally secure, that’ll be part of the deal. All of the control is WalMart and Oracle, two great American companies.”

    ByteDance will retain TikTok’s algorithm which is used to decide which videos are available to certain TikTok users. China recently announced a regulation that prevents other countries from using any algorithm created in the country. Oracle will get full access to review TikTok’s source code and any updates to make sure that there are no backdoors involved that could be used to steal U.S. subscribers’ personal data.

    TikTok has been a popular destination for teens and others looking to pass time during the pandemic. Users can create 15 or 60-second videos showing lip-synching, dancing, pranks, protests, and more. The app has been installed over two billion times from the App Store and the Google Play Store.

  • Walmart+ subscription service set to launch this month

    Walmart+ subscription service set to launch this month

    Retail giant Walmart has ended its membership program and is launching a new subscription service, Walmart+, later this month according to technology news website Recode.

    The service will cost US$98 a year and offer same-day delivery; petrol discounts and exclusive early access to the latest product deals.

    Walmart reportedly planned to launch the service in late March or April, but the move was hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is not clear yet if the program will be available nationally or regionally in the US.

    Recode said that shoppers will be able to access products from Walmart Supercenters. They can reserve delivery slots and avail of Express two-hour delivery. Members are also expected to benefit from a Scan & Go service so they can shop without waiting in line, and a Walmart+ credit card is expected to launch soon after the service.

    The move is Walmart’s latest bid to compete against the online retail giant Amazon.

    Last year in Australia Amazon launched an online subscription service for household essentials. The ‘Subscribe and Save’ model is popular in international markets as it offers free delivery on repeat purchases across pantry food and beverages, pet supplies, beauty, and vitamins and supplements.

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  • Walmart China to invest US$425 million in Wuhan

    Walmart China to invest US$425 million in Wuhan

    Walmart China is to invest US$425 million over the next five years to expand its presence in Wuhan, the origin of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The US-headquartered retail giant will open at least four Sam’s Club membership stores as well as 15 new malls in the territory within the period. It will also set up additional community stores around the provincial capital, to add to its existing 34 outlets and two distribution centers within Wuhan.

    “The framework marks a new milestone between the two parties and a new beginning for a win-win situation,” said Walmart China CEO Wern-Yuen Tan of the firm’s collaboration with Wuhan’s municipal government.

    Wuhan’s 76-day lockdown period was brought to a close last Wednesday with an official final death toll of around 2500 cases caused by the virus – although international observers have cast doubt on that figure.

    According to data released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, 40 percent of polled companies planned to maintain current levels of investment in China this year, as opposed to 24 percent who were planning cuts, with the remainder saying it is still too early to judge.

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  • Walmart India lays off management executives

    Walmart India lays off management executives

    Walmart India will let go around a third of its top executives at its Gurugram headquarters. The retailer has been struggling in the territory and is now responding by laying off more than 100 top-level executives, with more terminations expected to come later. It will also close its Mumbai fulfillment center and its largest warehouse, and will hold plans to open new stores within the Indian market.

    “We are always looking for ways to operate more effectively to serve our members,” said a spokesperson for Walmart India. “This requires us to review our corporate structure to ensure that we are organized in the right way to best meet the needs of our members. Impacted associates have been offered enhanced severance benefits and outplacement services to support their transition.”

    Following a decade of trade within India, Walmart’s sales growth has remained problematic, with the firm recording a net loss of US$24.26 million during the last fiscal year.

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  • Walmart China opening 500 more stores

    Walmart China opening 500 more stores

    US retailer Walmart is planning to launch 500 new outlets in China within five to seven years.

    The expansion will more than double the firm’s presence in the territory in time for China to emerge as the world’s biggest grocery market come 2023. The move comes in the face of an economic slowdown as China grapples with the US trade war and slow growth.

    In spite of the setback, Chinese consumers are still buying from Walmart, which experienced 6.3-per-cent year-on-year growth in the last quarter. Its global growth during the period was just 2.5 percent.

    “We will continue to collaborate with partners and policymakers in China to accelerate our expansion,” Walmart China senior VP James Ku said.

    The firm will also remodel more than 200 of its stores in China in the coming years, including installing self-service checkouts using facial recognition technology.

    Walmart China has operated for more than 20 years.

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  • Walmart cuts back ammunition sales

    Walmart cuts back ammunition sales

    US department store chain Walmart has taken a stand on gun sales in the United States, announcing it will no longer sell handgun and certain rifle ammunition, as well as finalizing its exit from handgun sales by discontinuing sales in Alaska.

    The decision comes after 22 people were killed in a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, as well as further killings in Dayton, Ohio, and Midland and Odessa, Texas, with Walmart chief executive Doug McMillion stating it was clear the status quo was unacceptable.

    “We know these decisions will inconvenience some of our customers, and we hope they will understand,” McMillion wrote in a letter to associates.

    “Our remaining assortment will be even more focused on the needs of hunting and sport shooting enthusiasts. It will include long barrel deer rifles and shotguns, much of the ammunition they require, as well as hunting and sport accessories and apparel.”

    While Walmart’s short-barrel rifle ammunition range is more commonly used in hunting rifles, it can be fed into larger capacity clips for use in military-style weapons.

    According to McMillion, the follow on effect of this decision would likely result in a loss of market share in the ammunition space, from Walmart’s current 20 percent to approximately 6 to 9 percent.

    McMillion also expressed intentions to send letters to the White House and the Congressional leadership, pushing for stronger background checks, and to remove weapons from those who have been determined to be dangerous.

    “As we’ve seen before, these horrific events occur and then the spotlight fades. We should not allow that to open,” McMillion said.

    “In a complex situation lacking a simple solution, we are trying to take constructive steps to reduce the risk that events like these happen again.”

    Additionally, after open carrying customers brandished firearms in a way that frightened or concerned staff and customers around them, McMillion has asked customers to no longer openly carry firearms into Walmarts and Sam’s Club stores with open carry laws – unless they are authorized law enforcement officers.

    “We believe the opportunity for someone to misinterpret a situation, even in open carry states, could lead to tragic results,” McMillion said.

    “We hope that everyone will understand the circumstances that led to this new policy and will respect the concerns of their fellow shoppers and our associates.”

    The business has faced immense pressure to take a stand on the issue, and remove firearms from its physical stores, following the El Paso shooting.

    According to CNN Business several presidential candidates, the American Federation of Teachers, as well as gun safety groups have all pressed the retailer.

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  • Walmart to relist Seiyu in global business revamp

    Walmart to relist Seiyu in global business revamp

    Walmart says it plans to relist its Seiyu retail business in Japan on the stock market, freeing capital to focus on its China and India business units.

    While the US retailer will retain a majority interest in Seiyu, it believes floating the unit will allow it to operate more independently.

    The move is part of a three-year business plan for Seiyu, part of a broader push to reshape Walmart’s international business.

    “As the parent loses the wherewithal to support low-performing overseas units, revamping those operations has become imperative,” observed Nikkei writer Kento Hirashima.

    Walmart had previously been tipped to sell the Japanese business unit, but has discarded that option.

    Seiyu also plans to expand its online grocery retail business and boost its range of fresh produce and prepared foods.

    Walmart forged an investment and operational alliance in 2002 before Walmart took full control six years later and Seiyu was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

  • India’s Myntra Starts Selling on Walmart USA

    India’s Myntra Starts Selling on Walmart USA

    India’s Myntra is expected to begin selling its brands’ products to the US via Walmart.

    The online fashion retailer was acquired by Walmart 10 months ago, since which time Myntra’s brands have been available through Walmart Canada.

    “We enabled Myntra to be online in Canada and we are also anticipating launching Myntra brands in our stores in Canada in Q3,” said Walmart International executive VP and chief administrative officer JP Suarez, “a nice compliment for an omnichannel experience for our customers. We are exploring with US for any Myntra product to be available on the US online marketplace.”

    Walmart is also expected to conduct a study of Myntra’s operations to assess what strategies may be applicable to other markets. The firm holds a major market share in India along with Jabong and Flipkart Fashion.

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  • Walmart hires former Amazon executive on new role

    Walmart hires former Amazon executive on new role

    Retail giant Walmart has hired former Amazon exec Suresh Kumar as its new chief technology officer and chief development officer as it aims to compete more with other tech savvy retailers.

    Kumar, who will take on the newly expanded role on July 8, has held senior positions in Google, Microsoft and Amazon. He has recently been working at Google where he serves as vice president and general manager of display, video, app ads and analytics and before that, he was corporate vice president of Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure operations.

    Before he joined Microsoft, Kumar was with Amazon for 15 years, holding several roles including vice president of technology for retail systems and operations and head of Amazon’s retail supply chain and inventory management systems.

    He will report to company CEO Doug McMillion and will be based at the company’s Sunnyvale, California office.

    According to Walmart, Kumar is joining the company at a time when it is rapidly transforming its customer and associate experiences.

    “The technology of today and tomorrow enables us to serve our customers and associates in ways that weren’t previously possible. We want to take full advantage of those opportunities,” McMillon said.

    “Suresh has a unique understanding of the intersection of technology and retail, including supply chain, and has deep experience in advertising, cloud and machine learning,” he said. “And, he has a track record of working in partnership with business teams to drive results.”

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  • Walmart trials new Online Store Format

    Walmart trials new Online Store Format

    Supermarket retailer Walmart has launched a new technology called Intelligent Retail Lab (IRL) that allows it to monitor its physical stores more efficiently and keep costs under control.

    The retail giant is testing this new technology, which includes artificial intelligence-enabled cameras, interactive displays and a massive data centre, in its 50,000-square-foot neighborhood market grocery store in Levittown, New York.

    According to IRL CEO Mike Hanrahan, the location is one of Walmart’s busiest stores and has more than 30,000 items and this allows them to test out the new technology concept in a real-world environment.

    “We’ve got 50,000 square feet of real retail space. The scope of what we can do operationally is so exciting,” Hanrahan said.

    IRL is set up to gather information about what’s happening inside the store through an array of sensors, cameras and processors. It has a combination of cameras and real-time analytics that will automatically trigger out-of-stock notifications to internal apps that alert associates when to re-stock, detect the products on the shelf and compare the quantities, among others.

    Hanrahan said the first thing this equipment will help the team focus on is product inventory and availability. In short, the team will use real-time information to explore efficiencies that will allow associates to know more precisely when to restock products, so items are available on shelves when they’re needed.

    “Customers can be confident about products being there, about the freshness of produce and meat. Those are the types of things that AI can really help with,” Hanrahan said.

    Walmart said with its new IRL technology, customers can trust that the products they need will be available during the times they shop.

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  • Walmart launched subscription service With Kidbox

    Walmart launched subscription service With Kidbox

    International retailer Walmart and Kidbox, the curated childrenswear subscription service, are teaming up to offer Walmart.com customers an exclusive, curated stylebox for kids.

    The service features an option to receive a seasonal selection, without a styling fee.

    The new stylebox will offer Walmart.com customers personalised styles selected from more than 120 premium kids’ brands. The stylebox will include four to five fashion items for US$48 – about 50 per cent off the suggested retail price for the group of bundled items.

    Clothing will include items from premium brands including BCBG, Butter Super Soft, C&C California and Puma.
    Walmart customers can order a stylebox by visiting the store’s website and completing a short style quiz for their child. Kidbox stylists use the quiz to tailor each box based on the child’s style preferences, the season and where the child lives.
    “We are thrilled to partner with Kidbox to introduce our first kids’ subscription apparel service offering premium fashion brands at a substantial savings,” said Walmart US e-commerce head of fashion Denise Incandela.

    “Over the last year, we have significantly expanded our portfolio of kids’ fashion brands as part of our broader effort to establish Walmart.com as a destination for fashion. Our partnership with Kidbox enables us to round out our offering with additional national and premium kids’ brands.”

    The Walmart and Kidbox collaboration has a charitable aspect as well. For every stylebox purchased on Walmart.com, Kidbox will clothe a child in need through its partnership with Delivering Good.

    “Walmart has done a lot over the past year to establish itself as a go-to retailer for all things fashion, and we’re honored to partner with the retailer to expand its kids’ assortment online, while also saving parents time and offering them the value and convenience of a stylebox,” said Kidbox CEO Miki Berardelli. “At Kidbox, we pride ourselves on understanding kids’ fashion preferences while also creating moments for them to learn about the importance of giving back.”

    Walmart.com has an expanding kids’ fashion assortment, which features more than 100 new brands that have been added over the last year, including Betsey Johnson, Kapital K, Levi’s, Limited Too and The Children’s Place. The retailer has also launched new shopping destinations for dance essentials and gymnastics, and licensed children’s clothing, making it easier for customers to shop for fashion featuring top movie, TV and gaming characters.

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  • Walmart partners with Google for voice shopping

    Walmart partners with Google for voice shopping

    US retail giant Walmart and tech company Google have collaborated on voice technology to assist customers with grocery shopping.

    Starting this month, Walmart Voice Order will allow consumers to order groceries through Google Assistant by saying, “Hey Google, talk to Walmart”.  Google Assistant will then follow the orders directly and add grocery items to their Walmart Grocery cart.

    “We continue to innovate for the future and look to technology to make great services even better in the future. Introducing: Walmart Voice Order,” said Tom Ward, senior vice president, Digital Operations, Walmart US.

    “With the new voice ordering capabilities we’re building across platforms with partners like Google, we’re helping customers simply say the word to have Walmart help them shop … literally.”

    “Best of all, customers can be extra confident that we can quickly and accurately identify the items they are asking for with the help of information from their prior purchases with us. The more you use it, the better we’ll get,” added Ward.

    When shoppers say “add milk to my cart,” the Google Assistant will add the specific milk brand the customer usually buys, meaning there is no need to continually repeat the brand, volume and whether it’s a low fat or whole milk.

    Shoppers can use Walmart Voice Order on Smart Displays like Google Home Hub, Android phones, iPhones, watches, etc.

    “We know when using voice technology, customers like to add items to their cart one at a time over a few days – not complete their shopping for the week all at once. So, this capability aligns with the way customers shop. We can’t wait to hear what they think about it and how it’s making shopping easier for them,” Ward explained.

    Walmart, Amazon competes in the US grocery sector

    Walmart’s latest move comes in light of Amazon’s plans to slash prices at Whole Foods Market and to give major discounts to Amazon Prime members. Amazon also offers voice-activated shopping using its own Alexa-enabled devices, which dominates the US smart speaker market, with 67 per cent market share in 2018.

    “We still don’t see a lot of people shopping and buying with smart speakers yet, but this may change if more lower-cost models begin to incorporate screens. We’re also likely to see people doing more things with their voice assistants as they find their way into cars and other home-based devices,” said analyst Victoria Petrock.

    There are still a minimum number of shoppers who are using speakers to shop. Voice commerce in 2018 accounted for approximately 0.4 per cent of US e-commerce sales. Analysts expect it to increase in the next few years.

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  • Walmart is taking on Amazon with its upcoming tablet

    Walmart is taking on Amazon with its upcoming tablet

    Soon, those searching for a cheap Android tablet won’t have to deal with the lack of Google Play Services found on the low-priced Amazon Fire Tablets. The line, powered by a forked version of Android, does not come with core Google apps including the Play Store. Instead, Amazon’s own app storefront is included. A tweet disseminated by XDA’s Mishall Rahman reveals that discount retailer Walmart is prepping an 8-inch Android slate that has Android 9 Pie pre-installed. The device will offer the usual bevy of Google apps and will feature the Google Play Store. Made in China, the tablet will carry Walmart’s own ONN brand, which it uses on low-priced tech accessories like headphones and cables.

    The new tablet, model number ONA19TB002, is expected to be “kid-friendly” according to a subsequent Bloomberg report. The 8-inch display will carry a resolution of 1200 x 800. Other specs included in Rahman’s tweet mention that the tablet will have a quad-core MediaTek MT8163 chipset under the hood, along with 2GB of memory and 16GB of expandable storage. The slate will have a microUSB port, and carry a 3500mAh battery.

    Walmart’s tablet has already received certification from the FCC, and could be priced under $200. A low priced tablet like this will probably not to do much to reverse the decline in shipments of the device. Strategy Analytics says that tablet shipments declined 6.2% last year. The Apple iPad remains the market share leader followed by Samsung and Amazon.

  • Today’s demanding consumers need tech-savvy food retailers: Walmart India CEO

    Today’s demanding consumers need tech-savvy food retailers: Walmart India CEO

    Food is the largest retail consumption category in India, accounting for 33 percent of the overall consumption expenditure. It is also the largest opportunity area, especially in times when market dynamics are changing dramatically, and consumer behaviour is no longer generic.

    Indian consumers are becoming more and more indulgent with food (and vegetables), and they are experimenting with new and foreign cuisines; they are seeking variety and are open to international brands. They profess to enjoy foreign food and are ready to pay more for premium or organic food items. This is a huge shift from the last decade.

    The changes to Indian consumer behaviour are being driven by increasing incomes, younger profiles of consumers and growing access to the Internet.

    According to Krish Iyer, President & CEO, Walmart India and Chairman of India Food Forum, the key trend certainly is for on-demand food.

    “There are a lot of pressures on the disposable income of the consumer. Factors like rising costs of real estate and the need to invest in health – important today because of the awareness and education on health are taking away good chunk of consumer’s disposable income and the expectation of value is increasing,” Iyer said on the sidelines of India Food Forum 2019.

    Expectations, he said, have built up because the consumer has a lot of options, making him more demanding of quality and other conveniences. “Today’s consumer is time-starved. Working couples want ready-to-eat, on-the-go and on-demand food, and this is driving a lot of consumption,” he added.

    To meet the shift in consumer demands, FMCG players are gearing up make the changes in their retail stores.

    Share of E-Commerce in The Retail Pie

    Iyer stated that the share of e-commerce is set to rise over the next 10 years aided by a rise in the Omnichannel format. This, despite the growth in brick-and-mortar retail from 2 percent to 12 percent.

    “What works for today’s FMCG players is a ‘go-to market (GTM) strategy’. This is particularly true for small and medium enterprises who want to launch products. Since GTM is more about digital first, they use the opportunity to connect with consumers in today’s highly connected phygital environment,” he said, talking about the big change which the FMCG sector is witnessing today.

    He stressed on the fact that it is extremely important to bridge the gap between physical and digital retail, especially since the consumer is going digital in terms of experience as also his touchpoints.

    Tech-Savvy CX At Walmart

    Sharing his insights gleaned from years at being at the helm of Walmart India, Iyer explained that that by enriching customer experience, Walmart has observed that the consumer has started purchasing more using the Omnichannel format – Rs 180 over Omnichannel versus Rs 100 spent at the physical store.

    While citing technology adoption as the key to retail growth, Iyer also talked about the four key challenges that retailers need to face head on: food security, safety and nutrition, food wastage and sustainability.

    “Feeding a rising world population of 10 billion, amid rising deaths of infants due to malnutrition and changing climatic conditions are key challenges. In India, phenomenal efforts are made on the regulatory front for safety and nutrition that will follow with awareness, compliance and enforcement of law. Significant investment amounting to Rs 92,000 crore in food processing in catchment areas is needed to overcome the wastage of 30 percent of all food and 40 percent of fruits and vegetables in the country,” he concluded.

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  • Ikea services foray boosts loyalty and sales

    Ikea services foray boosts loyalty and sales

    Ikea is turning to services to increase turnover and boost engagement with customers. Moreover, partnering with specialist companies in such areas as delivery and assembly allow it to focus on product design and sales, leaving post-checkout experiences in the hands of specialists, rather than committing its own staff and training resources. An example of the new Ikea services initiative is US odd-jobs app TaskRabbit, which Ikea bought in late 2017. Ikea recommends the service to customers who lack the time or patience to assemble their own kitset furniture products.

    Ikea reports that the number of jobs handled by TaskRabbit staff since it acquired the business had doubled and 10 per cent of the jobs undertaken are now assembling kitset furniture – five times the pre-purchase rate.

    Since the acquisition, TaskRabbit has expanded coverage to all 48 US cities with an Ikea store, launched in Toronto, Canada, and expanded in the UK beyond London.

    In Hong Kong, where few customers own cars, Ikea now offers both a delivery and assembly service with fixed fees according to location. Previously, it partnered with an app-based third party contractor.

    In Australia, Ikea has partnered with Airtasker and in India with UrbanClap, to offer assembly services.

    Reuters describes the Ikea services strategy as “a major strategic shift that it has been forced to adopt to stay in the game as waves of new competitors in an increasingly online world erode its dominance”.

    TaskRabbit’s quick success is prompting Ikea in the US to consider expanding services offered through Ikea, to include such tasks as interior design and furniture repair which would in turn potentially boost sales from stores.

    Jesper Brodin, CEO of Ingka Group, which owns most US Ikea stores, says TaskRabbit’s customer data could also help Ikea come up with new ideas for furniture.

    “As this community grows, it’s not only about fixing one or two things but actually to add professionalism in interior decoration, into ‘life at home’ practicalities,” Brodin said in an interview.

    “TaskRabbit is a super interesting business case because it is scalable, not only geographically but also into services at home.”

    GlobalData Retail MD Neil Saunders says a services foray could help Ikea boost its market penetration in the US, which is currently just 2 per cent. Despite the low market share, the US represents Ikea’s second-largest international market behind Germany, where it enjoys as 12 per cent share. Rivals like Walmart and Wayfair in the US have started offering assembly through TaskRabbit’s rival app Handy.

    Brodin wants TaskRabbit to expand into more countries.

    “We are convinced this is a way to access new customers in our cities. The convenience customer today has so many more choices, and they are used to getting a quick answer.”