US retail giant Walmart is expanding its in-store pickup service, making more items available for same-day collection ahead of the Christmas season.
According to the retailer, customers can now order a wide range of gifts, toys, electronics, clothes, and homewares online, and collect them in their local store later that day.
Walmart says that demand for same-day pickup doubles during the last two weeks before Christmas, and so this year, customers will be able to purchase a selection of items online by 4pm on December 23, and collect them in store by 6pm on December 24.
"We started the season by promising more – more assortment, more savings, more convenience and more fun," said Steve Bratspies, chief merchandising officer at Walmart US.
"We know the vast majority of our customers are still shopping and there is no more important time to deliver on our promise than the final days before Christmas."
E-Commerce Growth
In addition to the collection service, Walmart is also offering customers its standard free two-day shipping option.
"This year, we’ve tripled the amount of items available on Walmart.com, offering customers a broader assortment for their holiday shopping," said Scott Hilton, chief revenue officer at Walmart US E-Commerce.
"We continue to focus on providing them with great deals on must-have items, whether they want to ship those items to their home in two days, or pick them up in a local store that same day."
Walmart has been expanding its online services in the past few years in a bid to compete with e-commerce giant Amazon.
Recently, it acquired online retailers Jet.com and Bonobos, expanded its delivery services, and teamed up with Google on voice-activated shopping.
This push has led to online sales growth of at least 50% in the US over the past three quarters.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
