According to Recode sources, in July Walmart will debut Walmart+ at $98 per year to compete with Amazon Prime at $119 per year. Walmart customers will get “perks like same-day delivery of groceries and general merchandise, discounts on fuel at Walmart gas stations, and early access to product deals.” It appears all systems are a go, too, as a Walmart+ tease is currently visible on Walmart.com, and a Walmart spokesperson also confirmed the creation of the program via email on Monday. Walmart has 4,753 U.S. retail stores (and that doesn’t even take into account another 599 U.S. Sam’s Club stores). Instead of duking it out directly on price, selection and convenience with Amazon, Walmart+ affords Walmart the opportunity to carve out its own niche by way of the one thing Amazon is not — a physical commercial entity. Or said another way, Walmart+ is a smart call option through which Walmart can showcase just how much people and places still matter.

Source: Forbes July 14, 2020 09:56 UTC