Retail technology innovation of the week: Walmart Realm gets a festive makeover with new virtual stores

Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a series brought to you by RTIH, and sponsored by 3D Cloud, highlighting stand out deployments, launches, and initiatives by retailers and tech suppliers.

Every week, we will showcase forward thinking tech plays that have impressed our Editor and the Retail Technology Innovations Report judging panel, alongside the publication of the 2024 report.

So far, we’ve flagged up sterling work being done by Ocado Retail, Decathlon, Lacoste, Downtown Spirits, TalkShopLive, Huck’s, Rovertown, Wing, Nobody’s Child, IKI, Pixevia, A.L.C., Archive, Therabody, Outform, Kingfisher, PMC, Boots UK, Ocula Technologies, Grace O'Malley Irish Whiskey, Metacask, Ikea, Carrefour Belgium, Matalan, and McDonald’s.

And this week we’re focusing on Walmart Realm, which has announced a festive update including four new virtual shops inspired by social trends from Pinterest and TikTok with gifts and holiday ideas curated by influencers.

This allows customers to see products in their own personal space. A Wish List feature, meanwhile, enables people to create and share gift lists with family and friends and there is also improved product discovery for more seamless commerce.

And in the spirit of giving, Walmart will be giving guests the opportunity to win a Meta Quest 3S, HP Envy 2-in-1 Laptop, HART Tools Toolkit and more, via weekly giveaways and mini games between now and 20th December.

“Walmart Realm is continuing to shorten the distance between inspiration and commerce for the next generation of customers, highlighting the best gifts for everyone on their list in a familiar, gamified experience. It’s fun. It’s immersive. It’s adaptive retail,” says Justin Breton, Head of Brand Marketing Innovation at Walmart.

Launched earlier this year, built using the Emperia Creator Tools platform, and produced by Sawhorse Productions, Walmart Realm invites users to collaborate with a brand, in a social atmosphere, allowing visitors to to gather and exchange information on a particular topic, while also engaging and purchasing products related to the topic.

Walmart says that the social nature of this approach allows for digital creators an almost complete freedom in expressing themselves, while providing it the opportunity to enjoy the viral effect of such experiences. 

The new stores have just gone live here.

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Immersive experiences are a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which are now closed for entries.

The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, Business France, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.