December 24, 2024

How to Choose Products for Your Store on Walmart

Some products sell better than others on Walmart, some audiences perform better than others. It is important to know how to choose a product to sell for optimal conversion.
How to Choose Products for Your Store on Walmart
How to Choose Products for Your Store on Walmart

Key takeaways:

  • Walmart falls as the second-largest ecommerce retailer in the United States, attracting over 100 million visitors to its site and holding about 6.6% market share. 
  • The Walmart marketplace has over 35 product categories including electronics, clothing, furniture, home, jewelry, etc. 
  • Some products like perfumes may require special permission before you can sell them on the platform. Also, there are items you can't sell on the Walmart marketplace like alcohol, tobacco, and gambling products. 
  • To choose the best products to sell on the marketplace, know what products you can and cannot sell, look out for well-performing products on Walmart, and get some insights from competitor platforms while keeping Walmart's audience in mind. Also, keep an eye on your profit margin.

walmart marketplace

Walmart is among the fastest-growing ecommerce stores and online marketplaces in the world. If you want an alternative marketplace to Amazon, Walmart falls as a major contender. 

Launched in 2009, the Walmart online marketplace allows third-party vendors to sell products on Walmart. 

Walmart sellers have to register to sell on the platform after which they can upload their listings to appear on search results. 

Before exploring the Walmart marketplace, you want to know what type of product you will be selling on Walmart. This is a major determinant of success on the platform. You should not assume that products that do well in other stores like Amazon and Shopify will also do well in Walmart. 

In this guide, we will look at how to increase online business revenue by choosing the right product to sell on the Walmart marketplace. 

Why should you sell on Walmart?

Walmart falls as the second-largest ecommerce retailer in the United States, attracting over 100 million visitors to its site and holding about 6.6% market share

Walmart is a reputable brand trusted by millions of customers all over the world. The platform has lower competition compared to Amazon, making it easy to grow and stand out from the competition. 

The Walmart marketplace also offers millions of products, attracting a wide range of customers. 

The platform comes with sophisticated tools and features like Walmart Buy Box to improve customer service, increase sales, and grow revenue. 

Products sold on Walmart 

You are likely to find a good product at Walmart. The platform has over 35 product categories including electronics, clothing, furniture, home, jewelry, and so on. 

However, you should note that some products like perfumes may require special permission before you can sell them on the platform. 

There are also items you can't sell on the Walmart marketplace including alcohol, gambling products, tobacco, and so on. 

If you are not sure of the product you want to list on the platform, you can contact Seller Support. 

How to choose products to sell on the Walmart marketplace 

Taking out time to choose the right product and knowing how to sell products on Walmart comes with good benefits in the long run. Instead of blindly listing products on the Walmart marketplace, you can choose products that will perform well and make the required adjustments.

Let's walk through 6 tips to help you choose the right product to sell on the Walmart online marketplace. 

  1. Know what products you can sell and cannot sell
  2. Look out for well-performing products on Walmart
  3. Get some insights from competitor platforms 
  4. Keep Walmart's audience in mind 
  5. Keep an eye on your profit margin
  6. Incorporate special offers for better ranking 

Know what products you can sell and cannot sell

The Walmart marketplace has over 35 product categories that range from apparel to automotive and much more. 

However, Walmart lists a range of products that you cannot list on the platform at all or list without approval. This includes products like artifacts, drugs, explosives, or any product that promotes illegal practices. 

It is important to pay attention to the products listed on the Prohibited Products Policy to know which products you can and cannot list. 

Look out for well-performing products on Walmart.

Products performing well on Walmart can give you an idea of the product categories to go after. You can explore products with Walmart's Best Sellers ranking and top-selling items (trending Walmart products). 

With the insights gotten from these categories, you can predict which product will make the next bestseller.

Note that, it may not be a good idea to sell a product that is already trending. This is because it may be difficult for you to beat its item and shipping prices. However, you can go for complimentary products or products within their subcategories instead. 

Get some insights from competitor platforms. 

Another good way to choose products to sell on Walmart is to explore competitor platforms. This includes platforms like Amazon and Shopify. These platforms are also working towards providing a better customer experience and increasing their sales and revenue. You can look out for best-selling products on these platforms and try to identify gaps you can take advantage of on the Walmart marketplace. Here are a few pages you can check: Amazon Best Sellers, Google Trends, eBay Trending Deals, and so on. 

Keep Walmart's audience in mind. 

Walmart.com receives millions of unique visitors every month. The platform provides a variety of affordable quality products that attract budget-conscious customers. 

It is important to note that Walmart's in-store shopper is different from their online shopper. Several studies reveal that about one-third of online shoppers fall between the age of 23-28 and almost half are married homeowners. This is in contrast to their in-store shopper who falls around the age of 46. 

Knowing this, the most popular categories on Walmart.com include Health & Beauty, Household essentials, Clothing, Shoes & accessories, Petcare, and so on. 

You won't find products like handmade bags, as Walmart's audience isn't searching for them. It is important to keep this in mind when choosing a product to sell on Walmart. 

Keep an eye on your profit margin.

The goal of any business owner is to make a profit. Walmart is known for offering affordable products. This means you need to make sure your products are priced competitively bearing in mind that you need to factor in some costs. While Walmart charges no setup fees, you will need to pay commission fees for every sale. You will also need to pay other fees including product sourcing fees, advertising fees, and fulfillment fees. 

Ensure the numbers eventually align with your expected profit margin. In what ways can you reduce costs to increase your profit margin? 

Incorporate special offers for better ranking. 

Selling a good product is only one piece of the puzzle. You also need to incorporate special offers that buyers really want. These special offers attract new and existing buyers to your product and also increase your organic ranking on Walmart. Some of these offers include Walmart TwoDay,  free returns, and so on. 

Walmart TwoDay

The Walmart TwoDay is a shipping program that ensures nationwide delivery of products within two business days in the United States. With this program, online shoppers can enjoy free fast two-day delivery. It also comes with a wide range of benefits for Walmart sellers. These benefits include better visibility in search results, higher chances of winning the Buy Box, and eligibility for running Sponsored Product Ads. 

To qualify for Walmart TwoDay, you need to ship products within two days for free. This means you need to select products you can ship as quickly as possible. 

How to start selling on the Walmart marketplace 

Now you’ve taken the time to choose the right product, here are simple steps to get started on the Walmart marketplace. 

Step 1

Open a Walmart marketplace account: To become a Walmart seller, simply visit the site and click “Request to Sell”. Fill in the required information and click on “Apply Now”. You will receive an email once approved by Walmart. 

Step 2 

Register your business: Once you click the link in your email, you will be redirected to create your Partner Profile. You will need to have documents including your US business address and tax ID, an integration strategy, shipping information, company website, and so on. 

Step 3

Access Seller Center and complete partner profile. Here, you will see a Launch Checklist that lists some requirements you must have before you launch your account. One of the requirements is to complete your Partner Profile - a page where customers can learn about your business (this includes your business name, logo, tax information, and more). 

Step 4

Setup items for Walmart marketplace: This is where you put in your content, including images, videos, product descriptions, and so on. Fill in the required fields and correct any fields highlighted. Once done, upload it to the Seller Center. Once your items are uploaded to the Seller Center, they will be moved to Active Status. 

Step 5 

Preview your items: In your Seller Center, ‘Preview Item’ to cross-check your content and pricing in Active Status. You want to make sure everything is top-notch, as this is what your customers will see when they open your product page. You can also test your orders by clicking on “Update Inventory”, “Publish Item” and “Purchase Item”. Once you test your orders and verify your account, you can then proceed to the final step. 

Step 6 

Once you tick all the boxes on your Launch Checklist, you will get a notification asking you to confirm that you are ready to launch. Once you click on “Confirm”, you will automatically send a launch request. The Walmart team will review your profile and once approved will go live within 24 hours. 

Conclusion

The Walmart marketplace allows you to increase brand awareness, grow your business, and stand out from the competition. Choosing the right product sets your feet on the right path to attaining success on the platform. With the guide above, you should be able to identify what products will be profitable and start selling on Walmart today.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does Walmart decide what products to sell?

Walmart decides what products to sell by looking at a combination of factors: 

  • Walmart's search algorithm: Walmart’s algorithm checks if products match what customers are searching for. It prioritizes listings with exact keywords in titles and product descriptions. 
  • Competitive prices: The algorithm favors products that offer competitive pricing, as Walmart aims to provide low prices. 
  • Customer reviews and ratings: Positive reviews and high ratings indicate that customers are satisfied with the product. Walmart pushes such products up search results increasing visibility. 
  • Inventory levels: Products in stock are more likely to appear in search results, ensuring customers can purchase them.
  • Supplier relationships: Walmart works closely with suppliers to understand the demand and availability of products.
  • Market trends: The company analyzes current market trends and consumer preferences to decide which products to stock.
  • Data-driven technology: Walmart invests in AI and machine learning to predict trends and optimize product assortment.

How do you list products on Walmart Marketplace?

To start listing your products on the Walmart marketplace, you first need to join the Walmart marketplace. Once done, proceed to choose your item setup method:

  • Upload spreadsheet

You can upload a spreadsheet by selecting 'Build your Catalog' on your Seller Center. Choose 'Add items' and use the drag-and-drop feature to add your catalog. Ensure the Excel file (.xlsx) is less than 5MB in size and include minimum details like GTIN, Price, and Shipping Weight. 

  • Bulk upload

First, download and complete the Full Item Spec provided by Walmart. Select 'Walmart Fulfilled' for eligible items to leverage Walmart Fulfillment Services. Upload the completed sheet and “View status” in the Activity Feed. 

  • Set up items by match.

To use this method, select an Item Setup by Match Spec and leverage existing item data on Walmart.com. 

Choose the method that best fits your business needs and the size of your catalog. Ensure you have all the required information before starting the process. You can also consider using solution providers for multi-marketplace management. 

What does Walmart consider Marketplace items?

Walmart considers Marketplace items to be those that meet certain criteria and adhere to specific policies. Here are a few criteria to keep in mind: 

  • Items sold on Walmart must be relevant to Walmart's business and target audience. They must comply with Walmart's policies and standards.
  • Walmart allows single items, variations (up to 100 single variants or 500 multi-variants), and custom items. Bundled items are not supported. Used items are also not permitted. 
  • All listings must have at least two high-quality images. These images must be professionally lit, and properly photographed. 
  • Product descriptions must follow specific guidelines and should not include unproven claims or marketing phrases. 
  • Some categories, such as fragrances, luxury brands, software, cell phones and accessories, Halloween items, and custom content, require pre-approval. 

As a Walmart seller, ensure you carefully review and understand all necessary guidelines before listing products on Walmart Marketplace.

How can you be successful on Walmart Marketplace?

Becoming successful on the Walmart marketplace depends on some key strategies. Here are a few strategies that can set you on the path to success: 

  • Research products that perform well on Walmart. Identify gaps in Walmart’s inventory where competition is low, and demand is strong. 
  • Before you launch your best-selling products, you want to test them thoroughly.
  • Well-crafted product listings attract more customers and improve conversions. Focus on using clear, keyword-rich titles to help customers find your products, highlighting key features and benefits, using professional, high-resolution images, and incorporating relevant keywords naturally into titles, descriptions, and backend fields to improve visibility in Walmart's search results.
  • Price is a critical factor for Walmart shoppers. To stay competitive, regularly review pricing on similar products offered by your competitors, use dynamic pricing tools to adjust prices automatically, and use promotions to attract more customers.
  • Leverage WFS to offer fast, two-day delivery. If you choose to fulfill your orders yourself, ensure shipping is fast and cost-effective.
  • Keep track of Walmart’s policies and guidelines and ensure you adhere to them accordingly.

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