Walmart wants to make a little of everything available for everyone. Continuing its trend of featuring dedicated, virtually separated stores on its website, Walmart has now established a devoted auto parts section, in collaboration with the specialty retailer Advance Auto Parts. But beyond just hosting auto repair products on Walmart.com, the deal involves an extended strategic partnership. Product offerings will be consistent across Advance Auto Parts stores, Walmart store shelves, and walmart.com. In addition, customers can receive same-day delivery from either retailer, depending on which is more efficient. They also can sign up to have the parts they order installed in their cars. Thus Advance Auto Parts can sell its products in a much wider range of channels and stores, Walmart gets access to a broader and more specialized range of products to offer its shoppers, and consumers gain convenience and easy servicing—promises that are particularly valuable to busy people. Now they can find out what that check engine light means, and fix it, at the same time as they make their regular Walmart run.

Source: George Anderson, Retail Wire, October 16, 2018.