Shopify and Walmart Strike an eCommerce Partnership

On Monday of this week, Shopify and Walmart announced that they would enter into a new agreement, in which Shopify merchants will be able to directly list their products on Walmart.com. The deal will open Walmart’s online platform to Shopify’s small and medium-sized businesses, and the goal is to bring at least 1,200 merchants over to Walmart’s marketplace this year.

Why the Shopify and Walmart Partnership is Significant

This Shopify and Walmart partnership is significant because it marks a move to break into another eCommerce giant’s territory: Amazon’s. Currently, Amazon promises third-party sellers access to its 300 million-strong customer base. Amazon also offers help with shipping, returns, and fulfillment through its Fulfilled by Amazon service. However, Amazon locked out many non-essential sellers from its marketplace during the past few months of the Coronavirus pandemic…and that didn’t sit well with a lot of sellers on the platform.

Shopify sellers will stand to gain the most from the Walmart deal. The partnership will greatly expand the reach of participating brands, since Walmart.com currently receives 120 million monthly visitors.

Jeff Clementz, Vice President of Walmart Marketplace, said the following in an announcement:

“We’re excited to be able offer customers an expanded assortment while also giving small businesses access to the surging traffic on Walmart.com. Shopify powers a dynamic portfolio of third-party sellers who are interested in growing their business through new, trusted channels. This integration will allow approved Shopify sellers to seamlessly list their items on Walmart.com, which gives Walmart customers access to a broader assortment.”

I’m a Shopify Seller—How Do I Get in on the Action?

If you’re a Shopify seller looking to list on Walmart.com, you’ll need to go through an approval process. Firstly, Shopify sellers are being invited to install the Walmart Marketplace app from Shopify’s App Store and determine their eligibility. If approved, sellers can then add an unlimited number of products to Walmart Marketplace. Merchants should note that all changes to product inventory and images will still be done in Shopify. Walmart’s site will then immediately and automatically reflect those changes.

Walmart prefers to partner with United States-based small and medium-sized businesses with a product assortment that complements their own. Also, it’s critical that Shopify merchants that have a good track record in terms of customer service.

Shopify Merchants Will Still Be Responsible for Their Own Shipping

In addition to listing on Walmart’s marketplace, Shopify merchants will still be responsible for shipping and fulfillment of their products. Unlike Amazon, Walmart doesn’t have an extensive logistics chain that merchants can take advantage of. So, if you’re a Shopify retailer, it’s still up to you to find the cheapest ways to ship your products.

Shopify’s in-house USPS shipping labels offer great discounts and an easy process. The platform evens offers specially discounted mail classes like USPS Priority Mail Cubic. However, there are still better USPS shipping software options out there that will seamlessly integrate with your Shopify store, and give you the deepest discounts that the Postal Service has to offer.

If you’re looking for some shipping software options so your business can save the most money, check out our Reviews page.