For users of Walmart’s paid subscription loyalty program, the end of February will feel eerily similar to the start of Black Friday.
Walmart+ members (trial members are not eligible) will be able to take advantage of a special online shopping event commencing on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at noon ET, according to the company.
In addition, hundreds of items on Walmart.com that have been held specifically for them, such as video game consoles and gadgets, fitness equipment, and products for the home and fashion items, will be discounted by up to 40 percent.
The retailer’s members-only Black Friday shopping event, which allowed Walmart+ members to shop all of the holiday discounts before the rest of the public, is being expanded with an early spring shopping event, according to a press release from Walmart press staff.
Given its success, Walmart is giving this event to Walmart+ members, with new offers appearing each week while supplies last, until supplies run out. The retailer has not announced how long this promotional item will be available for purchase.
Walmart will join other major retailers, like Amazon and Target, in launching its Black Friday campaign much before Thanksgiving in October 2021, a first for the company.
New for 2021, the bargain giant’s second annual “Black Friday Deals for Days” promotion allowed paying Walmart+ members access to three online Black Friday events throughout November, four hours before other buyers.
The beginning of each Black Friday savings event began online at Walmart.com and continued in-store with the same bargains. A variety of commodities, including toys and gadgets, tires, apparel, home goods, and hardlines, were offered at a discounted price.
According to data from Numerator, Amazon took the largest part of Black Friday 2021 sales for the second year in a row, accounting for 17.5 percent of total sales. Walmart, on the other hand, received a higher proportion of Gen Z buyers’ Black Friday cash (12.7 percent) than Amazon.
Also on Black Friday, Walmart was the most popular retailer among low-income consumers (those with household incomes less than $40,000 per year), and it tied Amazon for the most Hispanic/Latino spending.
According to Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer of Walmart United States, in October 2021, “we are continuing to grow Walmart+ to be the ultimate life hack for our customers.”
In addition to providing crucial benefits such as free unlimited delivery from retailers and free shipping without a minimum purchase amount on a daily basis, “this implies that we build additional excitement for our clients during major events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.”
Walmart+, which will be available in September 2020, will cost $98 per year or $12.95 per month, with a 15-day free trial period. Walmart+ members will receive free next-day and two-day shipping on the vast majority of items sent by Walmart, regardless of the overall value of their basket.
The prices of the items will remain unchanged. The $35 minimum for delivery from Walmart shops on products such as groceries will remain in effect.
No minimum order is required for free shipping with the equivalent Amazon Prime membership club, which costs $119 a year or $12.99 a month. The Amazon Fresh online grocery delivery service, on the other hand, has a $35 free shipping requirement.
Amazon has been making major investments in fulfillment infrastructure in order to extend the range of products available for free one-day Prime delivery as well as the geographic reach of the service.
