Retail giant Walmart announced a new store remodeling project to provide its customers with a digitally-enabled shopping experience.
The new store design creates a heightened experience that engages shoppers through a sleek design aesthetic that highlights products and end-to-end digital navigation that guides customers through their journeys, said Janey Whiteside, executive vice president, and chief customer officer at Walmart.
According to Walmart, by the end of this fiscal year, nearly 200 Supercenters will be remodeled, as well as in select Health Centers and Neighborhood Markets, reaching close to 1,000 stores by next fiscal year.
Additional design elements and digital experiences at Walmart include
Omni-Shopping Spark and Optimized Entrance: Whiteside said it updated the Walmart signage on the outside and inside of the stores to reflect the Walmart application icon, creating an instant omni-shopping experience in the customer’s mind. When customers enter the store, they are greeted with clean, colorful iconography and a store directory that encourages them to download and use the Walmart application while shopping.
Throughout the store, a prominent, dimensional font (e.g., SEAFOOD, MEAT, and MILK) directs customers to the exact section they are looking for, while aisles are marked with letter/number combinations to guide customers from the phone to the product.
Airport Inspiration and Product Highlights: The redesign was inspired by airport wayfinding systems as best-in-class examples of how to direct large groups of people. Walmart developed simple but thoughtful designs to replicate these navigation efficiencies, to help move customers through the store more quickly.
Related Article: Walmart Tests the Grocery Store of the Future
The retailer also optimized product layout, bringing greater visibility to key items throughout the store, including dedicated in-store sections for electronics, toys, baby products, and more.
Contactless payment and checkout: Stores will include self-checkout kiosks as well as contactless payment solutions, including Walmart Pay, to limit contact between associates and customers. Select locations will also have Scan & Go to help customers manage their checkout directly.
“We’re always listening to our customers and innovating our in-store, online, and mobile experiences to meet and exceed their expectations. We want their time with us to be enjoyable, and we’re working hard to create ways for them easily toggle between shopping channels – or use them together,” said Whiteside.