Why Walmart’s Website Is No Longer A Destination For Glampers

The value-oriented retailer received backlash from brands when it added premium outdoor gear to its site.

By Alexandra HartSeptember 17, 2018 12:06 pm

Texans love the outdoors, whether they’re fishing, hunting, camping, hiking or another activity that involves nature. And with more than 600,000 acres of public lands in the state, there’s plenty of room to roam.

But then there’s the gear that goes with enjoying the outdoors: tents, fishing equipment, clothing. And some serious outdoor enthusiasts choose to pay a premium to get high-end products. Now, mega-retailer Walmart is wading into the high-end waters, trying to capture more of that business.

The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah Nassauer reports that things are off to a rocky start for the company, which usually focuses on marketing lower-priced products.

Nassauer says Walmart acquired high-end outdoor brand Moosejaw, and put its products on the Walmart website.

“Basically, other retailers that still sell a higher percentage of those [high-end] brands’ goods complained fiercely,” she says. “And those brands, a lot of them, asked to be taken down.”

What you’ll hear in this segment:

– Why premium bands didn’t want to be on Walmart’s website

– What the controversy means for Walmart’s e-commerce strategy

 

Written by Shelly Brisbin.