How to Sell on Walmart

Walmart is the largest retailer in the world, and it’s also a great place to sell your goods. If you’re looking for a way to make money on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy, then selling through Walmart is a good option for you.

Walmart has been allowing third-party eCommerce merchants since 2016 and has created a large and diverse marketplace to challenge Amazon. There are many options available to you if you want to sell on Walmart.

From application to set up to launch, this guide will take you through every stage of selling on Walmart.

Step 1: Submit an application to sell on Walmart.

The first step is to visit the Walmart Marketplace and complete the application form. You’ll have to enter quite a bit of data throughout this procedure.

You’ll need the following details:

• Your Social Security Number will not function as a business tax ID in the United States.
• Department of Treasury W9 or W8 and EIN Verification Letter
• The location of physical operations (address) (US-based)
• Method of integration that has been planned
• Catalog size, primary product categories, and so forth.

The more information you give, the quicker your application will be processed by Walmart. As a result, take your time and don’t rush.

The length of time it takes for your application to be approved is determined by the size, credentials, and capabilities of your company. Some vendors get a response in two weeks, while others have to wait months.

Who is eligible to sell on the Walmart Marketplace?

To sell on Walmart Marketplace, you must have a proven track record of selling online via your own website or a third-party marketplace such as Amazon or eBay. While Walmart hasn’t specified what constitutes “established history,” just selling via a physical location isn’t enough. The longer your online sales history, the more likely you are to be approved to sell on Walmart.

Walmart relies upon uses customer evaluations from third-party marketplaces in addition to overall sales data to evaluate how well your company is doing. Walmart prefers well-established online vendors that have a long track record of sales and a diverse product offering.

Step 2: Create an account with Walmart as a seller.

Walmart will give you an email with a link to set up your company on its Marketplace after you’ve been authorized. To build your Partner Profile, click the link in the email. The Signup Wizard will walk you through the following steps:

1. Creating an account
2. Retailer Agreement with Walmart
3. Registration of a business
4. W9 form
5. Information on payments
6. Information about shipping

You’ll need to fill out typical information for the majority of the stages above. You’ll be asked to set shipping rates and when you’ll process orders when entering your shipping details.

You’re ready to go on to the Partner/Seller Profile after completing the Signup Wizard. Customers may discover more about you on this public page. You must supply the following information to complete this step:

• For shoppers to view, there is information about the company and about us.
• Contact information for customer support, including phone numbers, email addresses, and hours of operation
• Costs and shipping alternatives
• Procedures and policies for returns
• policy on data protection
• To set up your sales tax obligations, you’ll need tax information.

Step 3: Make a Walmart Product List

It’s now time to put your goods on the market. This is probably the most essential stage since it will determine whether or not consumers can discover your goods. This may be done manually or by using a bulk upload or product feed to upload goods.

There are three product feed options available to Walmart Marketplace sellers:

1. CSV file bulk upload: Follow Walmart’s file upload instructions to generate a CSV file using an Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheet. It’s ideal for merchants who want to list a limited number of goods on the Marketplace.
2. API integration: You can link the Marketplace’s API to your eCommerce platform or order management system for free if you know how to handle an API connection.
3. An integration partner may connect some or all of the items in your current catalog straight to Walmart if you’re already set up on a platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce. The only disadvantage is that this service is not available for free.

Recognize Walmart’s Product Attributes

Walmart utilizes algorithms to decide which product will appear on an item page since many vendors submit information for the same product.

Attributes assist Walmart in recognizing and presenting your goods to prospective customers. When creating your Walmart Marketplace feed, keep the following characteristics in mind:

Attributes of Product Identification

• Name of the product
• GTIN, UPC, EAN, ISBN, or ISSN are several types of identifiers you may use in this area. Put “UPC” in this box if you’re utilizing UPCs, for example.
• Product ID – here is the field in which you enter the value for the product identification you chose earlier. “234567891012,” for example.
• SKU
• Brand
• You can use the terms “manufacturer,” “manufacturer part number,” and “model number” as identifiers.

Attributes of description

• Long description: A 4,000-character area where you may explain your goods.
• 1,000 characters to convey essential selling elements in a short description
• A brief bulleted summary of important features that appears on several shelves, including Walmart search and the Buy Box.

Attributes of Images

• URL for the main image
• Featured Image Optional, but useful for Walmart searches and SEO.
• Add descriptive words to each picture as additional asset text.

Attribute of Taxation

• Product Tax Code: This is a code that is used to identify the tax codes for products. This is needed for all goods, and without it, you won’t be able to post a listing. To discover the proper tax codes for your goods, use Walmart’s sales tax lesson.

Attributes of Price

• For US vendors, the price currency is dollars.
• Price Amount: The cost of the product.

Attributes of Shipping

• Weight-Value of Shipping: The weight of your goods.
• Walmart’s shipping weight unit is pounds (lbs.)
• Is Shipping Permitted: “Y” turns on shipping for your goods; “N” turns it off.
• Ship Method: Describes the various methods through which orders are delivered.
• Ship Region: This is where you specify where you want to ship to.
• Rates you charge for shipment are referred to as “ship price.”

Attributes Associated with Variant Groups

If you have items that vary in color and/or size, you may set up variants inside the field. The following are the characteristics to set up:

• This Unique ID should be used for all items in a variation group. This is basically the value of your Parent SKU.
• This is the name of the kind of variation, such as size or color.
• Swatch Variant Attribute: Variations may appear as a drop-down menu or a swatch option on Walmart.com.

Attributes that are exclusive to a category

Walmart’s Categorization Guide has 24 universal categories. Additional characteristics unique to certain goods may be included in certain categories and subcategories, such as items that utilize compliance attributes. If you offer organic goods, for example, you may utilize the “GMO-Free Claim” option for items in the Food Category.

Step 4: Put Your Orders to the Test

You’ll want to test orders before going live after listing your goods and completing all of the procedures above. Customers that add your items to their carts will have a better experience if you test them.

You may submit the whole product stream as the test if you have a tiny product collection. If you have a vast product portfolio, provide a sample—preferably your best-selling items—as a test.

All successfully uploaded goods will have a Stage status, indicating that they are not yet available on the marketplace site. However, you can preview how they’ll appear in real-time by going to Item Details and selecting Preview Item.

Create a method for managing orders.

You’re in control of order processing, shipping, exchanges, refunds, and customer care as a Walmart marketplace vendor.

Orders from the Marketplace may be retrieved using the following methods:

Put your order management abilities to the test.

Follow these steps to test a few orders:

1. Select two to three items to test from the Seller Center Dashboard.
2. For these items, update the price and inventory.
3. Click Publish Item under Actions (doing this will make the item go live).
4. Under Actions, choose Purchase Item.
5. You’ll be directed to the live product page where you can make a purchase.

Order acknowledgment, cancellation, delivery, and reimbursement are all crucial touchpoints to examine. If all of the touchpoints are working properly, you’re ready to go on to the next stage!

Step 5: Begin Using Your Account

A pop-up message will prompt you to confirm you’re ready to launch once you check off Complete Item & Order Testing in your Seller Setup Checklist. When you choose Yes, a launch request will be sent to the server.

Your account will be reviewed by the Marketplace staff once again, and if everything is in order, your goods will be up on the Marketplace within 24 hours.

What Does It Take to Be a Successful Walmart Seller?

To improve your chances of success after releasing your goods, it’s critical to optimize your catalog on a regular basis. While Walmart isn’t as cutthroat as Amazon, there is still competition, and only merchants who put in the effort to optimize their catalog will thrive. Here are a few pointers to help you succeed as a Walmart vendor.

Select the Most Appropriate Fulfillment Options

It’s completely up to you whatever fulfillment choices you choose. You have the option of fulfilling orders yourself or through a fulfillment service.

Walmart Fulfillment Services is used by a lot of prominent merchants (WFS). This eliminates a lot of the difficulty associated with selling on the Marketplace. You may also save money by partnering with a third-party fulfillment company.

Take home the Buy Box!

Walmart prioritizes the seller with the lowest price among those selling the same goods. This seller has the best probability of being selected for the Buy Box. When customers click the “Add to Cart” button, the product of the Buy Box winner is selected, and they get the order.

Leverage social proof

When prospective consumers see that previous customers are gushing about your goods and giving them five-star ratings, they are more likely to purchase from you.

Buy Ads

Sellers may use the Marketplace to promote particular goods and build marketing campaigns. While this may cost money, it will allow you to reach a larger audience more quickly. Furthermore, you only pay for an advertisement when a client clicks on it.

Optimize Your Website for Walmart Search

If you want to sell on Walmart and succeed, use Walmart SEO techniques to increase your exposure. Among the things you can accomplish are:

• Using High-Resolution Product Photographs
• Increasing the quality of product descriptions

There’s a primary picture and many background photos on your Walmart listing; make sure they’re all optimized for a pleasant purchasing experience, which will help your SEO. Utilize a closely cropped white backdrop picture for your primary shot, then use the subsequent photos to highlight details and the product in use. To increase sales, it’s essential to invest in a high-quality camera or photographer.

When selling on Walmart, product descriptions are another essential element in SEO. You may use descriptions to not only convince prospective consumers to purchase, but also to include descriptive keywords that will help people discover your products in the first place. The terms in your product descriptions inform Walmart’s search algorithm on the nature of your goods. As a result, you want to appear at the top of the page when visitors use the search box to look for anything relevant. Remember to mix short- and long-tail keywords in your search.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Much Does Selling on Walmart Cost?

The fact that you don’t have to pay a monthly charge is one of the most important advantages of selling on Walmart. When you make a sale, Walmart will simply charge you a referral fee.

What Are the Best Walmart Products to Sell?

Walmart customers expect high-quality goods from well-known brands at low costs. High-end luxury goods and low-end imports will not sell well here.

The following are some of the most popular product categories on Walmart Marketplace:

• Electronics
• Supplements and vitamins
• Toys
• Home furnishings and appliances
• Personal attention
• Patio and garden
• Apparel

You’ll be a perfect fit if your goods provide value to consumers at an accessible price range.

Conclusion

The Walmart Marketplace is still expanding, and you can be a part of it. If you satisfy the rigorous admission requirements, you should consider applying. When your account is authorized to begin selling, you’ll see an increase in orders and predictable seller fees with no surprises.