As the company explores new ways to generate sales, Walmart has announced a B2B membership-based initiative focused on small and medium-sized businesses, and nonprofits.
Millions of SMBs and nonprofits use Walmart’s stores and websites to purchase supplies, according to Hubka. Today, SMB and nonprofit customers are under pressure from inflation and supply chain issues, as well as from adapting to a hybrid workforce and post-pandemic behavioral shifts. Conditions being what they are, the company began working with SMBs and nonprofits to build solutions that suit their operations, with tools tailored to help interactions run smoother, stock up on the items they need and easily find products to meet their requirements.
So, Walmart Business launched with a focus on removing complexity in purchasing, lowering costs and giving its target shoppers more opportunities to serve their customers and communities, Hubka noted. Walmart Business leverages the company’s operating scale, proximity within 10 miles of 90% of the United States population and e-commerce, fulfillment and delivery technologies.
Walmart Business provides a curated assortment of more than 100,000 items with categorization and navigation tailored to busy organizational shoppers. As it developed the initiative, Walmart’s interaction with SMBs and nonprofits has helped the company identify key products for its new B2B operation including office supplies and furniture, food and beverage, restroom and breakroom, including small appliances and tableware, electronics and organization, classroom and facility needs. Walmart Business simplifies restocking by grouping products together in a way that makes sense to organizations, Hubka asserted.
In addition, Walmart Business offers multi-user accounts, giving organizations the ability to add as many as five users. Customers can share payment information, order history and purchasing power across their operations. Qualified organizations can enroll in the Walmart Tax-Exemption Program, which facilitates the automatic removal of eligible taxes during checkout.
Organizations that upgrade to a Walmart Business+ membership, at $98 per year, plus tax, have access to:
- Free shipping with no minimum
- Free pickup and delivery from the store with a $35 minimum order
- 2% rewards on orders of $250 or more
- Savings of 5% on eligible items
“As we continue to evolve the shopping experience, we are committed to listening to SMB and nonprofit customers to help them address the challenges they face today and the ever-changing challenges that come with running an organization. We are excited to help our customers save time, money and hassle,” Hubka stated.
