Walmart to take on Amazon Prime with subscription service launch

The world’s biggest bricks and mortar retailer has been working on its own paid membership model over the past 18 months, which is expected to be called Walmart+.

According to Vox, Walmart is planning to start testing the service as early as March.

The retail titan is said to be looking at a number of options and perks that are not yet offered by Amazon, including giving customers the ability to order goods via text message.

That service was previously offered by Jet Black, the premium personal shopping business incubated through Walmart’s Store No.8 programme, before it was shut down earlier this month.

Walmart said at the time of the decision that it would take learnings from the Jet Black business and integrate them within Walmart’s existing ecommerce operations.

It is understood that Walmart is yet to decide on a fee for Walmart+ membership. Amazon Prime costs shoppers in the US $119 a year and includes unlimited one-day delivery on more than 10 million products, as well as its video streaming service.

Amazon Prime has more than 150 million members across the globe.

Walmart currently gives its customers the option of paying $98 per year for unlimited, same-day grocery deliveries, fulfilled from more than 1,600 stores. But the US grocery giant is looking for new ways to innovate online, grow its digital customer base and stem ecommerce losses.

Walmart has yet to respond to Retail Week’s request for comment.