Interesting story in this morning's Internet Retailer
newsletter. Walmart.com is going to become a much stronger online
player, but their business may look different than many of the other
majors. With their store count and foot traffic so high, they are in a
unique position to use their web site to generate in-store purchases
(and vice versa).
The fact that you can return Walmart.com
purchases to Wal-Mart stores also increases store visits and online
consumer confidence. They are well ahead of the pack on this. They also
run their own site and thus control their own destiny more readily than
many other retailers. Target and Toys R Us, for instance, depend on
their partnerships with Amazon.com.
Wal-Mart suppliers would do
well to pursue programs that 1) convert online success with Walmart.com
into store listings, and 2) encourage in-store programs that promote
products that are only available at Walmart.com. Multi-channel
marketing at its best!