Walmart has announced the opening of its first e-commerce store in Japan, in partnership with Tokyo-based online shopping platform Rakuten.
The Walmart Rakuten Ichiba store will offer a new shopping experience for consumers by amalgamating Walmart’s expertise in delivering high-quality products from the US at affordable prices with Rakuten’s proficiency in online commerce.
'Strategic Alliance'
The senior vice-president at Walmart International, Nathan Kring, said, “The digital Walmart store on Rakuten Ichiba is part of a strategic alliance between Walmart and Rakuten announced in January this year.
“The two companies are leveraging their unique strengths and assets to expand consumer reach and enhance the way customers are served in Japan and the US,” Kring added.
Initially, the digital store will offer around 1,200 SKUs from different brands, comprising fashion apparel, outdoor goods, and toys.
The orders will be fulfilled in the US and sent through air freight to customers in Japan, under a 'no-surprises policy' that includes shipping, duties and taxes in the product price.
'Diverse Product Line-Up'
“We are very excited to be working with Walmart to bring a diverse product line-up of American brands at affordable prices to Rakuten Ichiba users in Japan,” commented Shunsuke Yazawa, executive officer and vice-president of the marketplace business at Rakuten, Inc.
“Through the opening of the Walmart Rakuten Ichiba Store, we hope to make Rakuten Ichiba an even more attractive destination for online shoppers in Japan,” added Yazawa.
Walmart’s Japanese subsidiary, Seiyu GK, will provide customer support for the store, leveraging its years of experience in serving consumers in Japan.
In August of this year, Walmart announced an alliance with Japan’s Rakuten to sell e-books in the US and improve its online grocery business in the Asian nation.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
