ClickZ Walmart Insights Newsletter - 10.31.2024

PLUS: eCommerce hacks, AI driven tools, and global growth tips.

Author

Ankith Udupa
October 31, 2024

Insight of the Week 📖

Couldn’t make it to Chicago for Shoptalk Fall? In this post, Jamie Bolton gives us a rundown of the key trends and strategies brands are betting on in Fall 2024:

🔑 Invest in Brand: Investing in brand has never been more important. Full-funnel strategies on Paid Social are now crucial, allowing brands to both build awareness and drive conversions in-platform. As Kyle Leahy from Glossier puts it, “People want to be part of something bigger.”

🛍️ Go Omni for Growth: As D2C growth hits limits, embracing an omni-channel sales approach is key to staying resilient. Brands like Solo Stove and Chinese Laundry are leading with strategies that don’t replicate D2C on third-party retail, finding unique advantages in each.

✈️ Go Global: With lower CPMs and wide-open markets, the EU offers significant growth opportunities. Effective localization strategies are essential for US brands looking to expand abroad.

Specialty Bites 🍪

Optiwise.ai's Olivia, an AI assistant for Walmart sellers, optimizes product listings and ads using GenAI. It enhances visibility and conversions by integrating sponsored ads and organic campaigns. Olivia helps sellers comply with Walmart's guidelines, offering a unified brand story and boosting revenue, especially during holiday seasons.

Walmart has launched its Gen Z clothing brand, No Boundaries (NoBo), on the immersive platform Zepeto. This move aims to engage younger audiences by leveraging Zepeto's vast user base of over 400 million, where users interact as 3D avatars. The launch includes a virtual presentation of ten pieces from NoBo's winter collection, allowing users to customize garments. This initiative is part of Walmart's broader strategy to integrate technology into retail, enhancing personalized shopping experiences through AI and AR platforms.

By collaborating with Zepeto creator Xexi, Walmart is also introducing limited edition items, showcasing its commitment to innovation. This approach aligns with Walmart's recent technological advancements, such as the Content Decision Platform and AR platform Retina, which aim to revolutionize the shopping experience by predicting customer behavior and creating 3D assets.

Walmart is enhancing its service offerings by rolling out same-day delivery for prescription medications in six states, with plans to expand to 49 states by the end of 2025. This service integrates with Walmart's general merchandise delivery, allowing customers to receive prescriptions and groceries in a single order. Key features include:

  • Coverage of most medications with insurance application.

  • Verification by licensed pharmacists and adherence to HIPAA standards.

  • Delivery capability to over 86% of U.S. households.

This initiative aims to meet customer demand for convenience and support pharmacies in focusing on high-touch health services. As Walmart seeks to regain its lead over Amazon in health and wellness, this service positions them to make a significant impact in the communities they serve.

Glenn Food Company, based in Jacksonville, has secured a significant deal to sell its seafood seasoning in over 2,500 Walmart stores. This expansion represents a major growth opportunity for the company, potentially reaching millions of customers and enhancing its market presence in the food industry.

Performance Pulse 📈

Google Performance Max enhances eCommerce campaigns by utilizing multiple Google platforms, offering increased reach and automation. It provides an 18% conversion boost, real-time insights, and efficient ad targeting. Businesses should leverage audience segmentation and automated asset creation to optimize results, maximizing return on ad spend and campaign effectiveness.

B2B digital commerce is revolutionizing business transactions by leveraging digital touchpoints to engage buyers. This approach enhances efficiency, customer experience, and scalability. Key trends include AI-driven personalization and mobile optimization. Implementing a suitable platform is crucial for success in this evolving landscape.

Every performance marketing campaign can incorporate brand elements to reinforce brand identity, while brand marketing efforts can successfully leverage performance metrics to refine messaging and engagement strategies - but getting the balance right is where the magic happens.

ClickZ is a Contentive publication in the DTC Ecommerce division