US retailer and putative Amazon competitor Walmart has begun a major push to bring UK exporters to its flagship US Walmart Marketplace.
As reported last week, the US giant is looking to bring UK sellers to its site with the lure of reaching growing base of more than 120 million loyal US shoppers each month. The move could also presage a move by the retailer to open up a UK arm of its marketplace, which could rival Amazon in size and scope.
The move to embrace UK exporters expands on decades of Walmart’s engagement with UK retailing and comes as the British government increases efforts to promote UK goods beyond the EU with its ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ campaign. US and UK trade representatives met earlier this year to deepen trade ties and boost the two nations’ thriving £200 billion relationship.
Sellers approved to join the marketplace will be offered the services of a dedicated onboarding team, as well as access to powerful tools and services to help them rapidly scale up across the Atlantic, including the opportunity to get their goods to US customers within two days, says the company.
Darren Carithers, senior vice president of Marketplace Development for Walmart International, offered British exporters the “full support of the Walmart team” as the world’s leading omnichannel retailer continues to invest heavily in the Marketplace and prioritize its growth.
“We are confident that UK sellers will be able to leverage Britain’s reputation for design and manufacturing excellence and product quality to thrive as Marketplace sellers and bring more choice to our US customers with speed and scale,” Carithers says.
Among the world-class tools available to help sellers streamline cross-border operations and grow their stateside business is Walmart Fulfillment Services. It allows UK sellers to use Walmart’s market-leading US supply chain infrastructure and expertise to offer two-day delivery to most of the US – so long as they have chosen to use Walmart Fulfillment Services. Sellers may also access marketplace platform tools that help them speed up processes, identify growth opportunities and manage promotions and feedback.
Top-tier UK companies already on the platform include STATSports, which has grown from its home base in Northern Ireland to be a global leader in wearable tech for professional and amateur sportspeople; Glasgow-based BuyBox, which sells home and garden products; Nodor, which manufactures and sells Red Dragon darts and other sporting equipment from its headquarters in Bridgend, Wales; and Leicester-based Pertemba, which exports a wide array of products to 18 countries worldwide.
Ravi Karia, managing director of Pertemba, says: “Building our business on the marketplace model, we’ve been exporting to the world since 2009. Today we sell on around 60 e-commerce marketplaces, big and small. Walmart Marketplace stands out for us for being easy to do business on, bringing us huge exposure and steady sales growth. I’d advise sellers to take advantage of how simple it is to list on the Marketplace to bring their full catalog and to explore Walmart Fulfilment Services, which we’re using to help us meet USconsumers’ high expectations for customer service and further improve our conversion rate.”
Top sellers invited to explore the opportunitu at London Summit
Walmart will host a UK Sellers Summit in London on June 17, 2022, with the support of Payoneer, a commerce technology company powering payments, and Linnworks, a commerce automation platform that connects commerce everywhere. Leading manufacturers and exporters from an array of sectors, ranging from fashion, home and kitchen to sporting goods, beauty and entertainment, have been invited to attend.
Payoneer and Linnworks will work with Walmart to offer UKsellers integrated payment options and centralized inventory and order management workflows to help them simplify and streamline cross-border operations and scale as demand grows.
James Allum, SVP and Regional Head of Europe at Payoneer, comments: “Payoneer is on a journey to empower businesses of all sizes, from all nations to grow across borders. We are delighted to see more UK companies joining the global digital economy as sellers on Walmart Marketplace in the US We look forward to continuing to help them manage their cross-border payments, access working capital and compliance support, and expand around the world.”
Callum Campbell, CEO at Linnworks, adds: “Meeting customers wherever they are choosing to shop online, with the right product at the right time is vital to success in business today. Walmart Marketplace removes barriers for UK sellers by connecting them to high-demand shoppers and offering a straightforward fulfilment solution. Linnworks is here to help sellers effortlessly integrate with Walmart Marketplace, so they can grow revenues, automate their processes, and unlock their business potential.”
