The online battle for Canadian dollars heats up with Walmart's new e-commerce offer

• Walmart looks to re-define consumers' online shopping experience with launch of new www.walmart.ca
• New site provides users with seamless experience across all devices and platforms
• New site offers Canadian customers free shipping* with no minimum spend

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Walmart Canada is looking to re-define the way customers shop online with the launch of its new e-commerce site. The newly redesigned site ensures customers get a seamless browsing experience , whether they're shopping on a traditional desktop or laptop computer, a Smartphone or a tablet.

Designed with a "tablet and touch" sensibility, the site features advanced functionalities such as a best-in-class search tool, location-based and personalized services, a simplified one-page checkout process and a guest checkout option, which allows customers to shop online without having to create an account.

The new www.walmart.ca features a larger product selection across key categories such as baby, electronics, home and dry grocery. Walmart has also added hundreds of new and innovative products to the site carried exclusively online such as, the Electrohome Kinsman Jukebox which retails for $898, the Premier Green Nature Series Greenhouse for $728 and the Winnipeg Spa Hot Tub for $5,348.

With more than 300,000 unique visitors daily, walmart.ca is the country's largest omni-channel retailer.  "As more and more Canadians are turning to www.walmart.ca as their destination for online shopping, we continue to see year-over-year growth in our e-commerce business," said Simon Rodrigue, vice-president and general manager of e-commerce for Walmart Canada. "Research shows that approximately 60 per cent** of Canadians are currently shopping online for everything from furniture to clothing to food to entertainment. As Canada's most shopped retail banner, we're uniquely positioned to extend our one-stop shop promise online."

In addition to an extended product selection, the new site provides visitors with a personalized shopping experiencing. With the customer's consent, walmart.ca can detect device locations and let customers know nearby store locations, hours of operation, services offered, delivery time estimates and availability of in-store items. An improved "suggested items" feature enhances the customers' shopping experience, providing suggestions on similar items and top rated products as customers navigate the site.

"As a company, we continue to look for new and innovative ways to serve Canadians. E-commerce allows us to serve customers in markets where we don't currently have stores or in markets where a store isn't easily accessible," added Rodrigue.

The company is currently the only Canadian retailer to offer free shipping* in Canada with no minimum spend, and is currently working with Canada Post for their Delivered Tonight pilot program which allows Walmart to surprise customers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with same day delivery. In addition, orders placed on walmart.ca can be picked up at more than 5,000 Canada Post locations around the country.

About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of more than 380 locations nationwide serving more than one million customers each day, as well as its flagship online store, www.walmart.ca, which is visited by over 250,000 Canadians daily. With 95,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is recognized by Waterstone Human Capital as having one of Canada's top 10 corporate cultures. Walmart Canada is focused on helping Canadian families in need. Since 1994, Walmart has donated and raised more than $180 million to Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations.  Additional company information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/@walmartcanada.

*Standard shipping only. Free shipping excludes some remote markets.  If available, free shipping options are shown at checkout.
**Sources: Walmart Performance Tracker & Flyer Tracker (May 2012 to September 2013 (n=62))

SOURCE: WalMart Canada

Susan Schutta, Senior Director, Corporate Affairs
Phone [phone] ext. 78012
[email protected]