Walmart Plans 'Pick Up Today' Service for Online Shoppers

In its latest effort to break free of its big boxes, Walmart says it will roll out its “Pick Up Today” service nationally later this month. It's also planning to add hundreds of small stores to its chain, company executives say.

The “Pick Up Today” service is seen as a slap at Amazon and other online retailers who have been eating larger portions of Walmart's lunch lately. It will enable customers to buy items online and pick them up the same day at a local Walmart store.

“Walmart is uniquely positioned to combine the power of eCommerce with our national retail footprint to offer a leading, multichannel experience that delivers the best savings and convenience to our customers,” said Steve Nave, senior vice president and general manager of Walmart.com.

“We’ve seen strong customer response from initial tests of ‘Pick Up Today,’ and we’re pleased to expand the program to customers nationwide in the coming months.”

“Pick Up Today” is expected to be available in about 3,600 Walmart stores by June. Online orders will generally be ready for pickup in about four hours, Walmart said.

In selected markets, Amazon.com is currently offering next-day delivery even on orders placed well into the evening. It is said to be planning a home grocery delivery service, currently being tested in the Seattle area.

Sears is a bit ahead of its rivals, with its service called mygofer.com, which allows customers to order online and have their items delivered or pick them up at the nearest Sears store.

"At mygofer, your list is our command," said a Sears spokesperson. "Shop with us for your prescriptions, groceries, beauty products, clothes, shoes, electronics and a whole lot more you might not expect."

Smaller stores

Walmart had originally said it would open 30 to 40 of its new small stores, called Walmart Express, but yesterday the company's U.S. president, Bill Simon, said the roll-out would be expanded to include “hundreds” of stores, The Wall Street Journal reported.

While the eventual target is dense urban markets not now effectively penetrated by big boxes, many of the initial stores will most likely be in rural areas, perhaps near Walmart's Bentonville, Ark., headquarters, while the format is fine-tuned.