Walmart is hoping that customers eyeing the latest deals will also start paying attention to commercials in display in its stores or through its in-store radio network as the company attempts to more tightly wed retail and marketing.
While this initiative was announced in June, Walmart stores are beginning to actively push the idea of marketing products and service at its location, capturing the attention the throngs of shoppers that visit. Roughly 240 million shoppers visit Walmart each week, according to Statista.
Walmart is attempting to better capitalize on the immense foot traffic and those critical moments when shoppers are considering new products in person. But this initiative underscores the pervasive nature of advertising, where seemingly no space is too sacred for a billboard or commercial.
The company boasts 170,000 digital screens across its various stores, according to CNBC. Beyond visual commercials, the company plans to air 30-second radio spots in that can be targeted at various stores or regions, CNBC said.
The company also talked about ramping up in-store demos, going beyond free samples and touting them as “experiences” for shoppers. The company is offering weekend demo events at about 120 stores, and plan to bring them to 1,000 by the end of the year.
It’s expected to be a growth area for Walmart, even if it makes up a fraction of its core retail business.