How do I get into Walmart E-commerce?

Walmart.com has been an extension of Walmart's brick-and-mortar stores for years, but it was only in 2009 that Walmart Marketplace debuted. Consequently, third-party sellers were allowed to sell their products on the Walmart.com platform, enabling them to complement the existing offerings from first-party retailers. 

The marketplace is one of the most effective sales channels for small and large sellers alike in the United States. Walmart Marketplace offers dozens of categories ranging from fashion to electronics and much more. Over the past few years, Walmart Marketplace has seen a lot of changes as online shopping has become the norm for Americans. There are now thousands of sellers on Walmart Marketplace, and that number is growing.

What's good about Walmart Marketplace

• Reach out to more people.

Walmart.com is a favourite shopping destination because of its worldwide recognition and seemingly endless product categories. A huge advantage of selling on Walmart.com is leveraging this traffic, which has an audience of more than 120 million unique visitors per month. With the site and app, you can expose your products to a broader audience and open up a whole new market of potential customers.

• Sell only what you get paid for

Customers love Walmart because of its low prices, which applies to its sellers. Walmart Marketplace charges no setup or monthly fees and has a straightforward, simple pricing structure. In its place, there is only a referral fee that is deducted from each successful purchase. It is estimated that this fee is 15%. However, it varies by category. 

• Embrace innovation

Getting access to some of the most innovative eCommerce solutions benefits from partnering with a large retailer. For example, Walmart's advanced listing quality tools, advertising options, and expedited shipping programs will boost conversion by 50%. Using analytics now and in the future to facilitate your business decisions is beneficial.

How to Sell as an E-commerce retailer on Walmart Marketplace

You may now be interested in finding out how to apply to sell on Walmart Marketplace. After learning what it's like to sell on Walmart.com, you might be wondering how you can do so. Here are some tips to help you get started.

• The application process

If you have all the information you need, applying to sell on Walmart Marketplace should take you between 10-15 minutes. The requirements are as follows: 

• Tax ID for US Businesses (SSN not accepted)
• Your US business address or place of physical business must be verified by a W9 or W8, as well as your EIN, from the Department of Treasury.
• You plan to integrate your product catalogue using bulk uploads, APIs, or a solution provider.
• Catalogue size and information (e.g. number of SKUs you will be offering on Walmart.com initially with UPCs verified; used vs. refurbished, etc.) for the primary product categories.
• Walmart's Prohibited Products Policy does not allow products to be included in the catalogue.
• A brief history of successful marketplaces or eCommerce

Upfront, provide as many details about your business as possible. It's a good idea to act fast if you've had correspondence back and forth with Walmart Marketplace to fix any gaps in your application. If you do, you'll avoid delays in the review process.

• Registration

Once your Walmart.com application has been approved, the following steps will start. The first step of the registration process is to get the link to register your business. There are six steps in the registration process, as outlined below.

The Walmart Marketplace registration process: 

1.  Account creation

Managing your Walmart Marketplace seller account begins with creating a username and password. Using the information you provide in your application, your username will be automatically filled in.

     2. Walmart retailer agreement 

Your next step will be to read the Walmart retailer agreement, a legal document that all Marketplace sellers must sign. You must agree to the terms and conditions of this document before continuing.

     3. Company registration

Your company will be officially registered when you enter a display name and corporate address. 

Display Name: This is the name that customers see on Walmart.com. 

Corporate Address: The address for internal correspondence.

1. Tax forms

Tax purposes require the completion of a W-9 form. A TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) is needed, along with your name and address.

      2. Payment info

You can receive Walmart payments by registering with Payoneer (Payoneer.com) or Hyperwallet (Hyperwallet.com). Walmart processes Marketplace payment via Payoneer and Hyperwallet.

     3. Shipping info

Your shipping pricing model, methods, and regions can be chosen here. Standard, expedited and next day shipping is the default shipping methods. 

• List, test and go live.

Listing your catalogue and testing orders before going live is the final aspect of getting started as a Walmart Marketplace seller. Once your customers are ready to add your items to their shopping carts, this process ensures a smooth experience. 

The first thing you should do is set up your best-selling items, and remember to take note that once this testing is complete, the items will go live. Therefore, you should use as many natural items as possible without identifying them as "test" items. For the initial item setup, provide a few things from each category if you fall into more than one category.

Getting started: Promoting your products:

It is now time to advertise and promote your products on Walmart now that your account is all set up. You may not see profit immediately after setting up your account. Your keywords and product listings must be appropriately optimised to attract your target audience. 

Visit Urtasker, who specialize in Walmart marketplace management. If you are busy and have difficulty managing your Walmart account, you can hire the expertise of Walmart consultants to do it for you. 

Conclusion

Overall, Walmart Marketplace provides a good platform for anyone planning to expand their eCommerce business. Sellers with high-quality products and previous marketplace experience may consider applying for approval. 

Check Urtasker if you need any guidance regarding Walmart marketplace management or any help if you have difficulty setting up your Walmart account. You will get expert advice from Walmart consultants if you ask for any.