Walmart to Acquire Art.com
Walmart announced Thursday that it plans to acquire online artwork retailer Art.com. According to Business Insider, Walmart will acquire the entire art company for an undisclosed price and will continue to operate it as a standalone site. Walmart will eventually add Art.com's product assortment to Walmart.com, Hayneedle.com, and Jet.com, two more of the retailer's acquired sites.
Art.com, which Walmart says is the world's largest seller of online artwork, joins the list of Walmart's recent purchases of smaller online retailers and complements the company's current home furnishing product offerings. In a blog post announcing the acquisition, Anthony Soohoo, senior vice president and group general manager, home, of Walmart U.S. eCommerce, says, "this announcement is just another example of how we’re establishing Walmart.com as a specialty retail destination for the home, giving customers the inspiration and confidence to make a beautiful home possible for everyone."
Total Retail's Take: Walmart has been steadily growing its product inventory and services through the purchase of digitally native brands such as Bonobos, ELOQUII, and Bare Necessities. These e-commerce brands bring unique, specialty products to Walmart's online portfolio and aid the retailer in its ongoing competition with Amazon.com. Big-box retailers are all looking for ways to diversify and attract segments of higher-spending online customers who may not regularly shop their sites. This acquisition also makes Walmart a bigger player in the digital space, specifically in the home shopping category after launching a new digital shopping experience for specialty home products earlier this year. Art.com is the perfect addition, bringing millions of art products and wall decor options to Walmart's online customer base.
Kristina Stidham is the digital content director at Total Retail and sister brands Women in Retail Leadership Circle and Women Leading Travel & Hospitality at NAPCO Media. She is passionate about digital media and handles video, podcast and virtual event production for all brands. You can often find her at WIRLC, TR, WLT&H or industry events with her camera and podcasting equipment—or at home on Zoom—recording interviews with thought leaders and business executives.
Kristina holds a B.A. in Media Studies and Production from the Temple University Klein College of Media and Communication in Philadelphia. Go Owls! When she's not in the office, she loves to go on long walks, sing around the house, hangout with her family and two pet guinea pigs, and travel to new places.
