New ClickZ Walmart Insights Newsletter - 09.26.2024

PLUS: Join TikTok, Seraphine and Sweaty Beatty for Fospha's BFCM webinar on October 3

Author

Marina Mouka
September 26, 2024

Editor’s Pick 🌟

Peak season is the single best opportunity for D2C brands.

To help you capture it, Fospha has assembled a panel of industry experts. Join them for a live discussion featuring leaders at Sweaty Betty, Seraphine, and the Head of Measurement at TikTok.

📅 Date: Thursday, 3 October 2024

🕒 Time: 11 AM EST / 4 PM BST

P.S. You'll have the chance to ask the experts questions about peak season strategies in real-time!

Gain exclusive insight into:

  1. Proven tactics to maximize peak period opportunities, shared live by experts

  2. Strategies for capturing customers efficiently through a full-funnel approach

  3. Insights on growing your customer base profitably with effective measurement

  4. Methods for identifying and capitalizing on growth headroom for efficient scaling across channels

Specialty Bites 🍪

Walmart is partnering with Fiserv to offer instant bank payments for online shoppers, bypassing traditional card networks. This new feature, launching next year, leverages Fiserv's NOW Network and aims to provide immediate transaction processing, enhancing customer budgeting and reflecting the maturation of real-time payment systems like FedNow and RTP.

Walmart's Global CTO, Suresh Kumar, announced that adaptive retail, driven by AI and machine learning, is now faster than traditional search bars for purchases. This tech-powered approach personalizes shopping experiences, transforming the retail industry by dynamically adapting to customer needs and preferences, ensuring seamless and efficient service.

Alice Walton, Walmart heiress, reclaimed her title as the world's richest woman with an estimated $89.1 billion fortune, according to Forbes. She surpassed Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, who is now worth $88.4 billion. Walton's wealth places her 18th globally, below her brothers Jim and Rob Walton.

Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, waits onstage during the annual Walmart shareholders meeting event on June 1, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Rick T. Wilking / Getty Images

Industry Appetisers 🥨

Walmart and Old Navy leveraged New York Fashion Week to boost their fashion profiles. Walmart showcased new collections with designer Brandon Maxwell, while Old Navy celebrated its 30th anniversary with a 90s-themed party. Both aim to attract budget-conscious consumers seeking trendy options amid economic pressures.

Retail media is revolutionizing the industry! Retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Tesco are leveraging customer data from loyalty programs to boost profits. This data helps in targeting ads more effectively, making them more relevant for shoppers. Executives at the Financial Times Future of Retail conference emphasized the potential of AI-powered loyalty programs to offer personalized shopping experiences.

The growth of retail media is also intensifying competition with Amazon. Retailers are using this new revenue stream to invest in technology, including AI. With margins up to 90% for on-site media, this could be a game-changer. As more retailers join the fray, advertisers gain more channels to reach consumers, creating a win-win situation for all.

Walmart attracts all income levels, while Temu appeals to rural shoppers. Amazon is popular among older consumers, and TJX and Ross Stores cater to different income groups. Younger consumers shop at a variety of retailers. Marketers should tailor strategies to these diverse shopper demographics for effective targeting.

ClickZ is a Contentive publication in the DTC Ecommerce division