After a successful August launch, Walmart Canada has announced plans to expand its Grab & Go locker program to 33 more locations across the Greater Toronto Area.
The retailer began testing the locker program at 10 Toronto locations late last summer.
The service allows consumers to shop online and pick up orders at a location of their choosing using a personalized PIN attached to an assigned locker.
“One of the advantages of being a bricks and mortar retailer is that you’re able to take advantage of both in-person and online components,” Alex Robertson, director of corporate affairs told Marketing‘s sister publication Canadian Grocer.
The expansion is timely, falling just as the holiday season begins.
“I think customers are going to exercise a huge amount of creativity when determining how to take advantage of the service,” Robertson said.
For example, someone in Vancouver can order a gift for a family member in Toronto, and be able to provide them with the pickup location and PIN for their present.
Walmart also offers an appealing same-day delivery option with online orders. The service competes directly with other online retailers like Amazon.ca, which also offers same-day delivery in Vancouver and Toronto for orders placed before noon.
But Robertson said the locker service appeals to a different kind of consumer than those that use same-day shipping.
“Not everyone can order things to their office, and using this pick up option can help provide a level of security that isn’t always available with home delivery,” he said.
Walmart is considering rolling out its locker program across Canada.
