Wal-Mart Improving the In-Store Experience for the Holidays
Wal-Mart is putting its stores center stage this holiday season. In an effort to make its stores easier and more festive to shop, the world's largest retailer is bringing in selfie booths; calling on designated "holiday helpers” to direct shoppers to the shortest checkout lines and run back to fetch forgotten items; adding more staffers to its in-store pickup desk, including a dedicated manager in every store; and increasing the number of product demonstrations two times. There also will be more exclusive merchandise, and Wal-Mart is moving from one-off promotions in favor of 90-day rollbacks.
Total Retail’s Take: These moves by Wal-Mart are good news for the industry. With Wal-Mart investing so much time, money and energy into its in-store planning for the holiday season, it could mean it's expecting big sales. However, while the mass merchant is entering the season with hope, the overall retail industry is grappling with an ongoing shift toward online shopping that may dampen some retailers’ holiday sales.
