Walmart is offering hyper convenience for American shoppers this holiday season with a 1-hour express pickup.
It’s part of a range of services that the U.S.’s largest retailer will roll out in the coming weeks, the company announced Wednesday.
The 1-hour pickup will be free for Walmart+ members - shoppers who pay a monthly or annual fee for perks such as free shipping and store-to-home delivery. Customers without a Walmart+ membership can use the service but will pay an undisclosed fee.
Those who have the Walmart app will be able to try the new “Shop to Light” feature.
“Customers can use the Walmart app to ask for help finding an item,” Walmart said. “The request tells the store system which product location to light up, and a small LED on the shelf label flashes to help the customer spot it.”
The store is also providing American Sign Language interpreting through a partnership with global language services firm Sorenson. Customers can connect with a live interpreter through their smartphone by scanning a QR code at a store’s customer service desk.
Walmart is just one of hundreds of retailers announcing plans ahead of a holiday season where spending is projected to surpass $1 trillion for the first time ever.
Walmart has recently come under fire with shoppers over fears its digital price labels are a way for the company to implement dynamic pricing - when prices shift based on factors such as consumer demand, time of day and other factors. CEO John Furner tried to ease those worries in a recent press release, saying the company doesn’t set prices based on customer profiles or shopping times.
Meanwhile, the company heads into the holiday shopping season amid sluggish growth.
Walmart’s comparable sales in the U.S., which measure sales at stores open at least a year along with online sales tied to those locations, rose 2.6% from April to June, down from 4.1% from the first three months of the year, according to a recent company earnings call.
The bright spot for the company was its online sales, which rose 24 percent year on year.
Overall, American consumers are expected to spend a record $275.1 billion online this holiday season, with consumers increasing spending on essentials like personal care products as they navigate a national strain on affordability, according to Adobe.
With reporting from Associated Press
Read MoreThe net worth you need to be in America’s wealthiest 1, 5 and 10 percent
Americans are learning to love smaller cars as gas pump pain deepens
Social Security payments could rise in 2027 – but retirees may still be disappointed
IRS tax bracket projections for 2027 — and how it will change, according to experts
Millions of student loan borrowers face a painful payment shock
