Walmart is launching a pilot program with Popable that will allow small businesses to rent space within its stores without being committed to a long-term lease.
Brands and spaces will list their products, stories and details on the platform. They will then be matched with a participating local Walmart store to enter into an agreeable
temporary
leasing agreement.
Walmart & Popable Join Forces to Help Small Retailers
Walmart and Popable, the pop-up shop marketplace platform have teamed up to create a new way to help small businesses get their foot in the door. For starters, they are partnering to offer short-term leases in designated Walmart stores across the country. The deal will also give small business owners the chance to take their swag to the next level.
The partnership, which includes a multi-million dollar investment from Popable, is the retailerâs latest attempt to modernize its brick-and-mortar stores while also reimagining how it interacts with customers to enhance their shopping experience. The two companies are also launching the Walmart Small Business Hub, a hub designed to help businesses connect with customers and improve customer experiences at the grocery store. This new hub will include more than 300 programs, including small business workshops and one-on-one support from local entrepreneurs and experts. It will be the first of its kind at Walmart.
Walmart & Popable Offer Short-Term Leases to SMBs
Walmart and Popable are teaming up to offer short-term leases to small businesses looking to rent space in a Walmart store. Brands and spaces can list on Popableâs website and be paired with a local participating Walmart to enter into a short-term leasing agreement, according to a press release.
The partnership comes as small merchants continue to struggle with rising costs, primarily due to supply chain inflation. As PYMNTS noted earlier this month, 45% of retail and consumer services Main Street SMBs reported that inflation is their top concern for the coming year.
The partnership with Walmart is part of an overall trend in which major retailers are expanding their store-within-a-store offerings to accommodate direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. This is an opportunity for both brands and Walmart to expand their customer bases at the same time, but it also requires careful consideration by both parties. For instance, Walmart has partnered with Claireâs Accessories to launch a store-within-a-store in 360 stores across the country.
Walmart & Popable Partner to Offer Shop-In-Shop Spaces
Walmart is partnering with Houston-based Popable, a pop-up shop marketplace platform, to offer small businesses and startups the opportunity to lease retail space within Walmart stores across the country. Through this partnership, brands and spaces can list their offerings on Popableâs website and then be paired with a local participating Walmart to connect and enter into short-term leasing agreements.
SMBs will be able to rent space on a short-term basis and will predetermine the timeframe of their leases. They can range from a month to a year and could grow into longer-term arrangements, according to Popable CEO Scott Blair.
The partnership comes as SMBs are struggling with rising prices from suppliers, a trend that can drive up their costs to consumers. This program allows SMBs to rent retail space at a low cost while allowing them to grow their business, Blair said.
Besides boosting revenue, the program is also designed to help SMBs reach new customers, Blair says. And, as a major retailer, Walmart can use this opportunity to court DTC brands and boost its brick-and-mortar footprint, he added.
Walmart & Popable Offer Shop-In-Shop Spaces to SMBs
As small businesses struggle with rising costs, Walmart is partnering https://popable.com/find/spaces/ with Popable to offer shop-in-shop spaces for short-term leasing. This partnership, which launched in November, allows small businesses to rent retail space within Walmart stores across the country for short-term leases, without having to commit to long-term leases.
According to a Monday announcement, small brands can list their offering on Popableâs website, where theyâll be paired with a local participating Walmart store and enter into a temporary leasing agreement. These agreements can range from one month to a year and could grow into longer-term agreements, says Scott Blair, co-founder and CEO of Popable.
Store-within-a-store has become a popular marketing strategy for brands seeking to extend their awareness and connect with consumers. However, host retailers need to ensure that the merchants theyâre partnering with have similar brand positioning and customer profiles