Marketing

Walmart kicks holiday season off early

Image courtesy of Walmart

September 23, 2024

Walmart is starting its holiday sales season early this year, holding its first holiday deals event weeks earlier than in previous years.

The move, according to a Walmart blog, is in response to the fact consumers are shopping for holiday gifts earlier this year.

"We know many of our customers are beginning to prepare for their holiday celebrations early, and we've adapted our approach to best meet their needs," Latriece Watkins, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S., wrote in the blog.

Walmart will hold its first Walmart Holiday Deals event Oct. 8-13. Beginning Oct. 8 at 12 a.m. ET on Walmart.com and the app, Walmart+ members get exclusive early access to shop the most-wanted deals, 12 hours earlier than anyone else.

As RetailCustomerExperience reported last week, Halloween shopping is getting earlier as 47% of consumers are shopping before October, according to an annual survey from the National Retail Federation.

The survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, revealed early shopping is up 37% compared to five years ago. Total Halloween spend is projected to reach $11.6 billion — a robust increase compared to last year's record-setting $12.2 billion, according to a press release on the survey's findings.