There’s a lot of confusion about how to access Walmart’s supplier platforms, and Retail Link credentials are at the center of it. Retail Link is the starting point for the entire Walmart supplier ecosystem, and the same credentials that get you into Retail Link also give you access to Supplier One, which most suppliers access directly through Retail Link, and Scintilla, Walmart’s analytics platform.

This guide covers how to log in, what to do when you can’t, which portal you actually need, how to get access if you’re new, and how the help desk works. Bookmark it and share it with your team.

How to Log Into Walmart’s Retail Link®

The login URL is retaillink.login.wal-mart.com. It has been stable for years and is the right place to start, regardless of which Walmart supplier platform you’re trying to reach.

To log in, you’ll need your Retail Link credentials: your User ID, your email address, and your password. All are associated with your company’s 9-digit Walmart Vendor Number.

A note on multi-factor authentication: Walmart enforces MFA on Retail Link®. If you’re logging in for the first time, you’ll be prompted to set up your MFA device during the process. On routine sign-ins, you’ll receive a verification code to confirm your identity. If your MFA device changes, or you get a new phone number, you’ll need to contact the Retail Link® Help Desk to reset it, since MFA changes aren’t self-service.

Single sign-on: Once you’re logged into Retail Link®, the same credentials give you access to Supplier One, which most suppliers access directly through the Retail Link® application, and to Scintilla. You don’t need separate logins for each platform. Retail Link® serves as the SSO hub for Supplier One and Scintilla. Other Walmart supplier portals like High Radius and the transportation portal can be set up with the same credentials, though suppliers may choose to use different passwords for those.

Which Walmart Portal Do I Actually Need?

A lot of suppliers search for “Retail Link® login” when what they’re actually looking for lives in Supplier One or Scintilla. All three platforms share the same login credentials. The question is just where to go once you’re in.

Here’s a quick framework to point you in the right direction.

• Retail Link®: Are we executing correctly? OTIF and SQEP scorecards (also accessible via Supplier One), NOVA (PO maintenance), AP Disputes Portal, store and DC alignment, supplier agreements, SSO hub
• Supplier One: What needs action right now? Item management (replaced Item 360 as of Sept 18, 2024), order management, ship point management (replaced Aspen), payments and deductions
• Scintilla: What’s happening and why? Point-of-sale data, inventory analytics, sales reporting, demand forecasting, Market Basket analysis (Charter tier only). Replaced DSS on March 1, 2024. Free Basic tier and paid Charter tier

A simple way to think about them: Retail Link (operational), Supplier One (workflow), Scintilla (analytics).

Suppliers don’t choose between these platforms. They use all three.

I’m a New or Prospective Supplier: How Do I Get Access?

Access to Retail Link® depends on where you are in your Walmart relationship.

You already work for an approved Walmart supplier. If your company has a 9-digit Vendor Number and you’re a new team member who needs access, your company’s Retail Link® Site Administrator can add you. You’ll self-register under your supplier’s Vendor Number and your administrator approves the request.

Your company isn’t yet a Walmart supplier. You can begin the self-registration process through Retail Link®’s onboarding flow via the Distribution Channel section. One important note: self-registration starts the process but doesn’t guarantee acceptance. A Walmart merchant has to invite your company to an agreement before access is fully granted.

A few common gotchas to watch for during onboarding: DUNS number conflicts, selecting the wrong supplier type between domestic and direct import, and Canada-specific access groups which route through Global Business Services rather than the standard onboarding flow.

If you’re navigating Walmart onboarding for the first time and want experienced guidance, our New Supplier Checklist is a good place to start. Our consulting team is also happy to help you avoid the most common early mistakes.

What to Do If You Can’t Log In

Login issues are common. Here are the most frequent causes and what to do about each.

• Forgotten password. Password resets are not self-service in Retail Link®. You’ll need to contact the Retail Link® Help Desk to reset it.
• MFA device changed. If you got a new phone or changed your authentication method, your MFA needs to be reset. This also goes through the Help Desk.
• Account locked. Too many failed login attempts will lock your account. The Help Desk can unlock it.
• “Not Authorized” error. This usually means your account exists but your role or permissions haven’t been set up correctly. Check with your company’s Retail Link® Site Administrator first, then escalate to the Help Desk if needed.
• Agreement not yet finalized. New suppliers sometimes try to log in before their supplier agreement is fully executed. If your onboarding is still in progress, full access may not be available yet.
• Browser issues. Use a current version of Chrome or Edge. Make sure JavaScript is enabled. If a session is behaving strangely, clearing your cache and cookies often resolves it.

If you’re not sure whether you’re dealing with a credential issue or an account-state issue like a DUNS conflict or a pending agreement, the Help Desk is the right call.

Retail Link Help Desk

The Retail Link® Help Desk is your first call for login issues, password resets, MFA problems, and account access questions.

• Phone: 479-273-8888
• Toll-free / Global Business Services: 888-499-6377

When you call, have the following ready:

• Your 9-digit Vendor Number
• The email address associated with your Retail Link® account
• The exact error message you’re seeing, or a screenshot if possible

For issues that live inside Supplier One, things like item setup problems or order management questions, you’ll want to open a support ticket through Supplier One’s Help section rather than calling the Retail Link® Help Desk. The two systems have separate support pathways.

Logging In from Canada

There is no separate Retail Link portal for Canadian suppliers. Walmart Canada suppliers log into the same Retail Link at the same URL using the same credential structure. If your company supplies both Walmart US and Walmart Canada, it is possible to access both the US and Canadian Retail Link environments using the same credentials, making it straightforward to manage both businesses from one login.

Canada-specific onboarding, including viewing Canadian supplier agreements and certain access groups, routes through Global Business Services at 888-499-6377 rather than the standard domestic onboarding flow.

If you’re a Canadian supplier looking for hands-on guidance from an advisor based in Canada, 8th & Walton’s Canada office can be reached at 416.997.3951.

Is Retail Link® Going Away?

One of the more persistent sources of confusion in the supplier community is the idea that Retail Link® is going away. It isn’t.

What actually happened on March 1, 2024 was that Walmart sunset the Decision Support System (DSS) reporting features that had lived inside Retail Link® and migrated analytics to Scintilla. Several industry publications described this as “Retail Link® sunsetting,” which led to real confusion among suppliers. The operational core of Retail Link®, including compliance scorecards, purchase orders, disputes, and supplier agreements, remained in place and is still there today.

Suppliers should expect to spend more time in Supplier One and Scintilla as those platforms continue to develop. But Retail Link® isn’t going anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Retail Link® login URL?

The Retail Link® login URL is retaillink.login.wal-mart.com. It has been stable for years and is the correct starting point for accessing Retail Link®, Supplier One, and Scintilla.

Why isn’t my Retail Link® password working?

The most common causes are a forgotten password, an MFA device change, or an account that’s been locked after too many failed attempts. None of these are self-service fixes. Contact the Retail Link® Help Desk at 479-273-8888.

How do I reset my Retail Link® password?

Password resets go through the Retail Link® Help Desk. Call 479-273-8888 and have your Vendor Number and account email ready.

Is Retail Link® going away?

No. Retail Link® is not sunsetting. The DSS analytics features moved to Scintilla in March 2024, but Retail Link® itself remains the operational core of the Walmart supplier relationship.

Do I need a separate login for Supplier One?

No. Supplier One uses the same Retail Link® credential via single sign-on. Log into Retail Link® and access Supplier One from there, or go directly to supplierone.wal-mart.com using the same login.

How do I log into Retail Link® from Canada?

Canadian suppliers use the same Retail Link® login URL and credentials as domestic suppliers. For Canada-specific onboarding and access groups, contact Global Business Services at 888-499-6377.

Can I create a Retail Link® account if I’m not yet a Walmart supplier?

You can begin the self-registration process, but full access requires a Walmart merchant to invite your company to a supplier agreement. Self-registration starts the process. It doesn’t complete it.

What browser do I need to use Retail Link®?

Use a current version of Chrome or Edge with JavaScript enabled. If you experience session issues, clearing your cache and cookies is usually the first thing to try.

What is the Retail Link® Help Desk phone number?

The Retail Link® Help Desk can be reached at 479-273-8888. For toll-free access and Canadian suppliers, call 888-499-6377.

How do I become a Walmart supplier?

Becoming a Walmart supplier starts with getting a Walmart merchant interested in your product. Once invited, you’ll go through Retail Link®’s onboarding flow to set up your supplier agreement. Our New Supplier Checklist walks through what to expect, and our consulting team works with suppliers at every stage of the process.

Get Confident with Retail Link®

Logging in is the first step. Using Retail Link®, Supplier One, and Scintilla well, understanding what each platform is telling you and acting on it before problems compound, is what actually moves your business forward.

Most supplier teams we work with know enough to get by in these systems. Fewer have built the kind of fluency that lets them catch a compliance issue before it becomes a chargeback, work through AP disputes systematically, or pull the right Scintilla report at the right moment in a buyer conversation.

That gap is closeable. 8th & Walton offers customized training across Walmart Systems, Supply Chain, Accounting, and Item Management, built for supplier teams at every level.

The post Retail Link® Login: A Walmart Supplier’s Guide appeared first on 8th & Walton.

In the latest episode of 3-Minute Insights, 8th & Walton’s Terry Clear discusses how Walmart suppliers should adjust inventory and forecasting to ensure compliance and strong sales.

Lainie: The latest frontier in the battle between Walmart and Amazon appears to be rural area delivery speeds. How should Walmart suppliers adjust inventory and forecasting as rural demand grows and delivery speeds increase?

Terry: It really comes down to making sure you have the right items in the right stores, because for Walmart, these rural deliveries are going to come from stores in the area. So, to get quick rural delivery, you need to make sure you have the right items in the right stores.

Clearly, some items sell across the spectrum. They sell everywhere. But if you have items that do better in rural markets, make sure you have those items in the store and on the mod. Okay. And that’s a conversation to have with the buyer. It’s always been about getting the right items in the right location.

Lainie: So you would recommend that be a topic brought up between the supplier and the buyer?

Terry: Absolutely. A lot of times, suppliers think that they want their product in all stores. Well, maybe your product shouldn’t be in all stores, because we don’t want to sell beachwear in Wyoming, and we don’t want to sell snow shovels in Florida.

So it’s not about all stores; it’s about the right stores. So know where your product sells, know the demand, and that’s the conversation to have with the buyer.

Lainie: What does Walmart’s store-based fulfillment model mean for suppliers when you compare it to Amazon’s micro-hub approach?

Terry: It goes back to making sure you have, on the Walmart side, the items in the stores that are going to fulfill those rural orders. Now, Amazon has a little bit different approach to how they’re going to forward-deploy inventory to serve those rural markets.

But again, for both companies, it goes down to what the demand is going to be for items in these rural markets and how they can make sure they have, for Walmart, items in those stores and, for Amazon, items in their micro-fulfillment centers.

Are you a Walmart Supplier? Get in touch to schedule a free consultation:

Lainie: Where do you see the biggest opportunity for suppliers in the $1 trillion rural market over the next few years?

Terry: It’s really market availability and velocity. So both Walmart and Amazon are going to continuously adjust their holdings based on item velocity. Space is too precious to waste on items not moving. Whether you’re fulfilling through Walmart and putting items in stores that can be fulfilled into the rural market, or at Amazon, you’re going to have items in their micro-fulfillment centers that are going to serve these rural markets.

Neither one of those companies wants to have products in there that just collect dust. So let’s get the right items that are going to have the right velocity to serve the customers.

3-Minute Insights is produced by 8th & Walton at The Ledger in Bentonville Square. The Ledger offers six fully bikeable stories of private offices, individual coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues. The Ledger’s stunning views and state-of-the-art amenities make it the perfect location for doing business, hosting events, and celebrating life’s milestones, including weddings!

The post Walmart & Amazon Take On Rural Delivery — 3-Minute Insights appeared first on 8th & Walton.

If you’re new to selling at Walmart, one of the first things you’ll hear is that you need to get into Retail Link®. If you’ve been a Walmart supplier for years, you’ve probably watched Retail Link® change around you, sometimes dramatically. Either way, the honest answer to “what is Retail Link®?” looks different today than it did even three years ago.

Walmart has spent the last several years evolving its supplier tools, and the platform looks meaningfully different today than it did even three years ago. Retail Link® remains the operational hub, housing applications like Supplier One for item and order management, and connecting suppliers to Scintilla, Walmart’s dedicated analytics platform. High Radius, a separate portal for accounts receivable, rounds out the ecosystem. Understanding how these tools fit together is one of the most practical things a supplier team can know.

This guide covers what Retail Link® is right now, what you can do in it, how it fits with Walmart’s other platforms, and why every active Walmart supplier still uses it every week.

What is Retail Link®?

Retail Link® is Walmart’s online portal where approved suppliers manage the operational side of their Walmart business. Think compliance scorecards, purchase orders, accounts payable disputes, store and distribution center information, supplier agreements, and single sign-on access to Walmart’s other supplier tools.

It lives at retaillink.login.wal-mart.com and is gated to suppliers with an approved 9-digit Vendor Number. If you’re doing business with Walmart, you’re in Retail Link®. There’s no alternative.

One important reframe for suppliers coming in fresh: Retail Link® is the operational core of the supplier relationship, not the analytics hub it once was. Point-of-sale data, sales reporting, and demand forecasting have moved to Scintilla. Many item and order management workflows now live in Supplier One. What remains in Retail Link® is everything related to compliance, performance, orders, and agreements, the foundational mechanics of how suppliers execute their Walmart business day to day.

A Brief History of Retail Link®

Retail Link® traces its roots to the early 1990s, when Walmart began sharing point-of-sale data electronically with key suppliers. It was one of the earliest large-scale retail data-sharing programs of its kind, and it gave Walmart suppliers a meaningful advantage in managing their business.

In 1997, Walmart moved Retail Link® to a web-based extranet, making it accessible via the internet to a much broader supplier base. Through the 2000s and 2010s, the platform expanded steadily, adding apps, scorecards, dashboards, and analytics tools that made it the central hub of the Walmart supplier relationship.

That began to shift in the early 2020s. Walmart launched Scintilla (originally called Walmart Luminate) in 2022 to house analytics and point-of-sale data, and launched Supplier One in early 2024 to unify item and order management workflows. On March 1, 2024, Walmart sunset the Decision Support System (DSS) features inside Retail Link®, completing the migration of analytics to Scintilla. Retail Link® didn’t go away. It refocused on what it does best.

What You Can Do in Retail Link® Today

Retail Link® is best understood today as the operational core. Here’s what lives there:

Purchase Order Management

Most purchase order management has moved to Supplier One, Walmart’s item and order management application within Retail Link®. Suppliers use Supplier One to track PO status, fill rates, shortages, and Must Arrive By Dates (MABD). NOVA, Walmart’s original PO application, remains in use for PO maintenance. Staying on top of both is essential for OTIF performance.

AP Disputes

The Accounts Payable Disputes Portal (APDP) lives within Retail Link® and is where suppliers dispute deductions withheld from invoice payments — chargebacks, claims, and other amounts Walmart has held back. If you’re not actively working your disputes in APDP, you’re almost certainly leaving money uncollected.

For accounts receivable, money owed from suppliers to Walmart, Walmart uses a separate tool called High Radius, accessed at walmart.highradius.com with its own login credentials. New suppliers need to request access by emailing [email protected]. The two tools are complementary but distinct, and it’s worth making sure your team knows which one handles which side of the ledger.

Store and Distribution Center Alignment

Retail Link® maintains the most current list of Walmart stores, divisions, and DC alignment, including future stores with grand opening dates. This is the reference suppliers use when mapping distribution and planning new item rollouts.

Distribution Channel and Agreements

Supplier agreements, onboarding workflows, and access to the Walmart Supplier Academy all live within Retail Link®’s Distribution Channel section.

The SSO Hub

Perhaps the most underappreciated function: Retail Link® is the single sign-on point for Supplier One and Scintilla. One login, three tools. Your Retail Link® credentials are your key to Walmart’s full supplier ecosystem.

Retail Link® vs. Supplier One vs. Scintilla: How They Fit Together

Walmart’s supplier ecosystem is three tools working together, not one platform trying to do everything. Suppliers don’t choose between them; they use all three. Here’s how they divide the work:

• Retail Link®: Are we executing correctly? OTIF and SQEP scorecards, NOVA (PO management), AP Disputes Portal, store and DC alignment, supplier agreements, SSO hub.
• Supplier One: What needs action right now? Launched 2024. Item management (replaced Item 360), order management, ship point management (replaced Aspen), growth programs.
• Scintilla: What’s happening and why? Formerly Walmart Luminate, launched 2022. Point-of-sale data, inventory analytics, sales reporting, and demand forecasting. Replaced DSS on March 1, 2024. Available in a free Basic tier and paid Charter tier. Note: Market Basket analysis is available in the Charter tier only.

A useful way to think about it: Retail Link® tells you whether you’re meeting Walmart’s operational requirements. Supplier One is where you manage the work of being a supplier. Scintilla is where you understand your business performance and make strategic decisions.

If you want to go deeper on either of the connected platforms, our Walmart Supplier One guide and Scintilla Hub are good places to start.

Is Retail Link® Going Away?

No. Retail Link® is not sunsetting.

This misconception gained traction around March 2024, when Walmart sunset the DSS features inside Retail Link® and migrated analytics to Scintilla. Several industry publications characterized this as “Retail Link® is going away,” which led to real confusion among suppliers.

What actually happened is more precise: the analytics layer of Retail Link® moved to a dedicated platform. The operational core, covering compliance, scorecards, purchase orders, disputes, and agreements, stayed in Retail Link® and remains there today.

Suppliers should expect to spend more time in Supplier One and Scintilla as those platforms mature. But Retail Link® isn’t going anywhere. If you’re doing business with Walmart, you’re using Retail Link®.

Why Every Walmart Supplier Uses Retail Link®

There’s a short answer and a longer one.

The short answer: because Walmart requires it. Retail Link® is the entry point to the supplier relationship. There’s no workaround and no alternative.

The longer answer: because the data in Retail Link® directly affects your business outcomes. Your OTIF score determines whether Walmart fines you for late or short deliveries. Your SQEP score signals to buyers whether you’re a reliable partner. Your AP disputes, if left unworked, become permanent deductions. The store and DC alignment data shapes how you distribute and plan.

Suppliers who treat Retail Link® as a passive reporting tool, somewhere to check occasionally, tend to be reactive. Suppliers who treat it as an active management tool tend to catch problems early, dispute chargebacks successfully, and show up to buyer conversations with data that builds credibility.

Mastering Retail Link® and knowing how it connects to Supplier One and Scintilla is one of the highest-leverage things a supplier team can invest time in. It’s also one of the most common gaps we see, even among suppliers who have been at Walmart for years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Retail Link®?

Retail Link® is Walmart’s supplier portal, where approved vendors manage the operational side of their Walmart business, including compliance scorecards, purchase orders, accounts payable disputes, store and DC information, and supplier agreements. It also serves as the single sign-on hub for Supplier One and Scintilla.

Who owns Retail Link®?

Retail Link® is owned and operated by Walmart. It is not a third-party platform.

When was Retail Link® launched?

Walmart began sharing point-of-sale data electronically with suppliers in the early 1990s. The web-based version of Retail Link® launched in 1997.

Is Retail Link® free for suppliers?

Yes. Access to Retail Link® is provided to approved Walmart suppliers at no cost.

Is Retail Link® going away?

No. Retail Link® remains active and is the operational core of the Walmart supplier relationship. The analytics features (DSS) moved to Scintilla in March 2024, but Retail Link® itself continues to house compliance, scorecards, orders, disputes, and agreements.

What’s the difference between Retail Link® and Supplier One?

Retail Link® handles compliance, scorecards, purchase orders, and disputes, the operational mechanics of the supplier relationship. Supplier One handles item management, order workflows, ship point management, and payments. Both evolved from Retail Link®’s infrastructure, but they serve distinct purposes.

What’s the difference between Retail Link® and Scintilla?

Retail Link® is where suppliers manage operational compliance. Scintilla is where suppliers analyze business performance, covering point-of-sale data, inventory, sales trends, demand forecasting, and Market Basket analysis. Think of Retail Link® as execution and Scintilla as insight.

Can I access Retail Link® without being a Walmart supplier?

No. Retail Link® is gated to suppliers with an approved 9-digit Vendor Number. Access requires going through Walmart’s supplier onboarding process.

¿Qué es Retail Link®?

Retail Link® es el portal en línea de Walmart para proveedores aprobados. Es la plataforma donde los proveedores gestionan el lado operativo de su relación comercial con Walmart: órdenes de compra, cumplimiento de métricas, disputas de cuentas por pagar, información de tiendas y centros de distribución, y acuerdos con proveedores. También funciona como el punto de acceso único para Supplier One y Scintilla, las otras dos plataformas del ecosistema de proveedores de Walmart.

How do I learn to use Retail Link®?

8th & Walton offers hands-on training in Retail Link® and the full Walmart supplier ecosystem, including Supplier One and Scintilla. Our Walmart Systems training is designed for supplier teams at every level, from first-time users to experienced operators looking to go deeper.

Learning Retail Link® Well: Where to Go From Here

Knowing what Retail Link® is matters. Using it well and understanding how it connects to Supplier One and Scintilla is what actually moves the business.

Most supplier teams we work with know their way around Retail Link® well enough to get by. Fewer have built the kind of fluency that lets them catch a compliance issue before it becomes a chargeback, work their AP disputes systematically, or use the platform’s data to show up to a buyer conversation with something worth saying.

That gap is closeable. 8th & Walton offers customized training across Walmart Systems, Supply Chain, Accounting, and Item Management, built for supplier teams who want to operate with confidence across the full Walmart ecosystem.

Talk to a Walmart advisor today.

The post What Is Retail Link®? Walmart’s Supplier Platform Explained appeared first on 8th & Walton.

8th & Walton’s Terry Clear explains that consumers are demanding more transparency about ingredients and nutrition. He encourages suppliers, especially in private label, to go beyond minimum FDA label requirements by leaning into clearer, front-of-pack communication.

Lainie: There has been a lot of calls on the part of consumers for transparency in labeling around ingredients and nutrition. How should suppliers adapt to these demands, particularly now when we’re looking at private labeling?

Terry: I think suppliers should lean into even more transparency, because there’s a significant shopper base out there that is very interested in all of the components that go into your product, especially if it’s a food product. So you need to do more than just meet the minimum FDA label requirements. If you have positive benefits about the components or the elements that make up your product, you need to convey that to the consumer so that, when they’re looking at the shelf, they see your product as a clear advantage over some other product, without requiring them to pick it up and turn it over and look at the FDA label on the back and compare it to somebody else’s. Put it right out in front: how your product is superior to the other products on the shelf.

Are you a Walmart Supplier? Get in touch to schedule a free consultation:

Lainie: And you mean things like organic or biodynamic or high in fiber or gluten-free, things like that?

Terry: Yes. Whatever it is that you can legitimately claim is a health benefit or a benefit to a particular consumer. Some people have medical reasons why they need a particular element in their product or need something to be excluded, and for others, there are general health benefits. You need to make those attributes readily apparent to the shopper, not something they have to search for.

3-Minute Insights is produced by 8th & Walton at The Ledger in Bentonville Square. The Ledger offers six fully bikeable stories of private offices, individual coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues. The Ledger’s stunning views and state-of-the-art amenities make it the perfect location for doing business, hosting events, and celebrating life’s milestones, including weddings!

The post Nutrition Labeling & Private Brands — 3-Minute Insights appeared first on 8th & Walton.

8th & Walton’s Terry Clear discusses Walmart’s packaging overhaul of its Great Value brand as part of a broader push into private brands.

Lainie: We’ve been hearing a lot about Walmart’s recent repackaging of its Great Value brand, and we’re hearing so much about store brands right now. What does Walmart’s Great Value packaging overhaul signal to suppliers about expectations for branding?

Terry: First of all, as with anything, brands refresh from time to time, and Walmart is doing this with the Great Value brand. It’s kind of been needed. But Walmart is leaning into private brands more and more, especially with the rollout of the bettergoods brands. I believe that the percentage of private-label brands sold by Walmart is going to continue to increase over the years, and I think they could wind up with 35–40% of their sales coming from private brands.

So if you’re a supplier, how do you compete with this other brand, this Walmart private brand? How do you compete with that, and how do you lean into it? Are you a supplier that’s going to be interested in bidding on some of this private brand business?

Are you a Walmart Supplier? Get in touch to schedule a free consultation:

Lainie: And what are the biggest opportunities for suppliers to drive innovation in this evolving private-label strategy?

Terry: I think the first question is, “Am I going to participate in private brand development, or am I just going to keep my own brand and try to develop it?” In either case, you need to be focused on your brand development: how you connect with customers, how you continue to grow, and how you develop that emotional connection.

Because there are some brands that have such a strong emotional connection that if something else gets bought, you just say, “No, I’m sorry, we’re not doing that.” So you need to leverage your brand as best you can to develop that emotional connection with a shopper, and that’s where you generate brand loyalty.

And in today’s world, I heard a good quote the other day: “Loyalty is just where I am today until something better comes along.”

 

3-Minute Insights is produced by 8th & Walton at The Ledger in Bentonville Square. The Ledger offers six fully bikeable stories of private offices, individual coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues. The Ledger’s stunning views and state-of-the-art amenities make it the perfect location for doing business, hosting events, and celebrating life’s milestones, including weddings!

The post Walmart’s Great Value Overhaul, Part 1 — 3-Minute Insights appeared first on 8th & Walton.

8th & Walton’s Terry Clear explains how Walmart’s store-based marketplace fulfillment will impact Walmart suppliers.

Lainie: What does store-based marketplace fulfillment mean for supplier inventory, strategy, and placement?

Terry: For marketplace suppliers, it means forward-deploying their inventory to be closer to the customer. Walmart wants to increase fulfillment speed, and the only way to do that is to have inventory pre-positioned.

Are you a Walmart Supplier? Get in touch to schedule a free consultation:

Lainie: And how might this pilot change delivery expectations and SLAs for Walmart Marketplace sellers?

Terry: There’s a lot to work out here, and it’s really about getting the right product to the right location. This is not going to work for every product. But for those that it can work for, it’s now going to be on the supplier to manage inventory at multiple locations so that fulfillment of the order can happen in hours instead of days.

Lainie: Where do you see Walmart gaining or losing with this versus Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon when Walmart expands this model?

Terry: This is just another leg in the Amazon-Walmart race as they both work to reduce fulfillment times. In one area, Walmart does seem to have an advantage—they’ve got 4,500 dots on a map. They could pre-position a lot of inventory and get it to the customer quickly. Amazon can get products delivered quickly as well. This is not the last move that either party will make, and with any new initiative, there will be things learned and there will be hiccups. But that’s what happens when you try new and innovative things.

3-Minute Insights is produced by 8th & Walton at The Ledger in Bentonville Square. The Ledger offers six fully bikeable stories of private offices, individual coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues. The Ledger’s stunning views and state-of-the-art amenities make it the perfect location for doing business, hosting events, and celebrating life’s milestones, including weddings!

The post Walmart’s Store-Based Marketplace Fulfillment — 3-Minute Insights appeared first on 8th & Walton.

Running a successful seasonal program at Walmart takes more than a great product. It takes knowing how to read your numbers inside Walmart’s systems, understanding what those numbers mean for your next conversation with your merchant, and having a plan ready when the season ends and the real work begins.

That’s exactly where one of our PathFinders clients found themselves after a strong Walmart season. A family-owned food supplier with a beloved regional product and real momentum at Walmart, they wanted to take what was working and build on it. The question was how.

That’s what they brought to PathFinders advisor Sean Presley.

Turning a Good Season Into a Clear Story

This supplier’s product has deep regional roots and a concentrated selling window, just a few weeks around a cultural holiday that drives enormous demand in core markets. The season went well. Sell-through was strong and customers responded. But like many suppliers running a tight, focused operation, their energy during the season goes into executing, not analyzing. There hadn’t been a structured way to pull the performance data together, make sense of it, and shape it into something they could take back to Walmart.

Sean built that for them.

What PathFinders Actually Did

Throughout the season, Sean pulled weekly sell-through data and sent the supplier a simple, readable tracker covering which DCs were moving product, units sold by store, current on-hand inventory, and week-over-week trends. It gave the team real-time visibility into their business at Walmart without pulling them away from running it.

“They would ship everything and hold their breath,” Sean noted in a debrief with our team. “Now they can actually track it and understand what’s going on.”

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At season’s end, Sean built a full performance recap deck, the kind of presentation a Walmart merchant expects from a supplier that knows its business. It covered sell-through, units per store per week, OTIF performance, and return rate. The numbers told a strong story. But digging deeper into the markdowns surfaced something worth fixing.

Finding the Hidden Opportunity in the Markdown Data

The supplier’s end-of-season markdowns were higher than their overall performance would suggest. When Sean worked through the data, the culprit was structural: the product carried a five-day shelf life, and Walmart’s standard markdown protocol kicks in two days before the sell-by date. That left just three days at full price before stores started cutting it, regardless of how well the product was actually selling.

It wasn’t a reflection of demand or quality. It was simply how the math worked given the current shelf life, and it was something that could be fixed.

Sean flagged it and the supplier engaged a third-party lab to test the product’s actual shelf life. The result: the product was good for ten days, not five. Updating the label is projected to dramatically reduce markdowns next season, keep the product at full price longer, and improve how the brand shows up on shelf. It’s the kind of detail that only surfaces when someone is looking at the full picture.

From Season Recap to Growth Pitch

With a clear performance story in hand, Sean built the case for expansion. Using Google My Maps, he plotted current distribution against the full Walmart store network and identified 282 additional stores within 30 miles of existing locations in proven demand clusters: Houston, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Northwest Arkansas.

Northwest Arkansas made the point well. The supplier had just three stores in the market. Those stores sold through so fast that Walmart issued a second replenishment order, which also sold at 97%. The opportunity to grow in that market was obvious once the data made it visible.

The pitch going to the merchant isn’t “we’d like more stores.” It’s: here are the markets where demand is proven, here’s how many stores we should be in, and here’s the data that backs it up. That deck also includes the shelf life testing results, a new smaller-format product the merchant had specifically requested, and a conversation about earlier PO timing to improve planning and cash flow on both sides.

They’re walking into the next line review as a supplier with a plan and a partner who helped them build it.

The Off-Season Is Where Growth Happens

For seasonal suppliers, the quiet period after your season ends is actually when the next one gets won or lost. PathFinders pairs you with a dedicated Walmart expert, backed by a full team of specialists, so you stay ahead of what’s coming, understand what your numbers are telling you, and walk into your next merchant conversation with confidence. You own the buyer relationship. We help you make the most of it.

If that sounds like what you need, let’s talk.

The post PathFinders Client Spotlight: How a Seasonal Food Supplier Built a Data-Backed Growth Strategy at Walmart appeared first on 8th & Walton.

8th & Walton’s Heather Reid explains what happens when Walmart’s system can’t auto-match your invoice to a purchase order and receiving data. When the three-way match fails, your invoice enters research mode in APIS (Walmart’s Accounts Payable Inquiry System), requiring a human to perform a manual reconciliation.

Lainie: Why does the invoice I sent to Walmart show a status of “research” within APIS?

Heather: That’s a great question , because I’ll see invoices along the side in the invoice summary part of APIS, and it’ll say my invoice is in research mode. And I’m like, “Why?” Unfortunately, we don’t get a lot of details as to why, but some of the reasons can be that the system was not able to auto-match it. It wasn’t able to take your invoice and match it to a purchase order and match it to a receiving. They have this thing called the three-way match, and it wasn’t able to do that.

Are you a Walmart Supplier? Get in touch to schedule a free consultation:

So what happens is it basically goes into research mode, which means usually a human needs to get involved to try to do the reconciliation or matching of that invoice. Some of the reasons why that can happen include: the product got there before the invoice—and we’ve talked about that a few minutes ago—or there could be a pricing difference on the invoice. The quantities could be different. There could be various reasons for why it doesn’t match. So it goes into research.

3-Minute Insights is produced by 8th & Walton at The Ledger in Bentonville Square. The Ledger offers six fully bikeable stories of private offices, individual coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues. The Ledger’s stunning views and state-of-the-art amenities make it the perfect location for doing business, hosting events, and celebrating life’s milestones, including weddings!

The post Why Does Your Walmart Invoice Show “Research” Status in APIS? — 3-Minute Insights appeared first on 8th & Walton.

If you’ve spent any time in a Walmart store or on Walmart.com, you’ve seen the word “Rollback” on red shelf tags and product listings. But what exactly is a Walmart Rollback, and how is it different from a sale or clearance? If you’re a Walmart supplier, there’s even more to understand, because Rollbacks affect your business in ways that go well beyond the shelf tag.

Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is a Walmart Rollback?

A Walmart Rollback is a temporary price reduction on a specific item. It’s not a sale, and it’s not clearance — it’s Walmart’s way of passing along a lower cost to customers on top of their already competitive Everyday Low Price (EDLP) strategy.

Rollbacks are typically displayed with “Was/Now” signing, so customers can see both the original price and the reduced Rollback price. They usually last up to 90 days before the item returns to its regular price.

Walmart’s pricing philosophy is built around EDLP (Every Day Low Price), the idea that customers should always be able to trust Walmart to have a low price without needing coupons, sales events, or special promotions to get it. A Rollback fits within that philosophy: it’s not a gimmick or a promotional event, it’s simply a temporary cost reduction that Walmart is passing on to the shopper.

Why Does Walmart Use Rollbacks?

Rollbacks serve a few purposes for Walmart. They give the retailer a way to respond to cost changes in the supply chain. When a supplier’s costs come down, Walmart can pass those savings along to customers in the form of a Rollback. They also help drive velocity on specific items, support category performance, and give buyers a tool to respond to competitive pricing pressure.

For customers, Rollbacks reinforce the trust that Walmart’s pricing is always working in their favor. For suppliers, they’re a signal that Walmart is paying close attention to your item’s cost structure and expecting you to do the same.

Key Features of Walmart Rollbacks

Understanding what makes a Rollback distinct helps suppliers navigate them more effectively. Here are the defining characteristics:

• Temporary duration. Rollbacks typically last up to 90 days. At the end of the Rollback period, the item returns to its original price– unlike clearance, which is a one-way journey down.
• Was/Now pricing. Rollbacks are always displayed at a price point, not a percentage. The original price and the Rollback price are shown together so customers can see the value clearly.
• Item-specific. Each Rollback is unique to a specific item. One product in a category may be on Rollback while a competing product right next to it is not.
• Requires pricing history. An item must have an established price history at Walmart before it can qualify for a Rollback. New items launching at Walmart cannot debut on Rollback — there’s no “Was” price to anchor the “Now” price.
• Available online and in-store. Rollbacks are not exclusive to brick-and-mortar Walmart stores. Items can be flagged as Rollback on Walmart.com as well, with the same Was/Now pricing displayed.

Walmart Rollback vs. Sale vs. Clearance

These three terms often get used interchangeably, but they work very differently. Here’s how they compare:

Rollback vs. Sale

A traditional retail sale is typically event-driven– a Labor Day sale, a back-to-school promotion, or a percentage-off event tied to a marketing push. Rollbacks are none of those things. They don’t have a theme, they’re not advertised as part of a promotional calendar, and they’re expressed as a price point rather than a percentage discount. A sale creates urgency around an event. A Rollback is simply a lower price on a specific item for a defined period.

Rollback vs. Clearance

This is where the distinction really matters. Clearance items are products Walmart is discontinuing, overstocked on, or clearing out at the end of a season. The goal is to sell through remaining inventory, often at progressively deeper discounts, and not reorder.

Rollback items, by contrast, are permanent assortment items that will be restocked when sold through. They return to their regular price at the end of the Rollback period. And unlike some clearance items, Rollback items can be returned to Walmart because they’re staple products, not one-time inventory.

One important nuance: a Rollback item can become a clearance item. If Walmart puts an item on Rollback expecting sales to increase and they don’t, Walmart may decide the item doesn’t belong on the shelf. The item could then be moved to clearance and marked down further to clear remaining inventory.

How Rollbacks Affect Walmart Suppliers

For suppliers, Rollbacks are more than a shelf tag update. They have real implications for your margins, your supply chain, and your relationship with your buyer.

• Rollbacks are often supplier-funded. When a buyer asks for a Rollback, they’re typically asking the supplier to absorb part or all of the price reduction. That means your margin takes a hit for the duration of the Rollback period. This is worth understanding before you agree to one– and worth planning for in your cost structure.
• They’re tied to third-party audits. Rollback pricing and price changes are areas where third-party auditors look for discrepancies. If your Rollback was agreed upon verbally or without proper documentation, you could face unexpected claims. Getting the details in writing– dates, quantities, pricing– is essential.
• They drive volume expectations. When Walmart sets a Rollback price, they expect item velocity to increase. If it doesn’t, your item may be at risk. A Rollback that doesn’t deliver sales can be a warning sign to your buyer that the item isn’t performing and may lead to reduced shelf space or discontinuation.
• They require planning. A poorly planned Rollback, one that isn’t timed correctly, doesn’t have proper documentation, or creates supply chain strain, can create more problems than it solves. Make sure your dates and quantities are clearly defined and that your supply chain can support increased volume.

How Suppliers Can Prepare for Rollbacks

If your buyer brings up a Rollback, or if you’re considering proposing one, here’s how to set yourself up for success:

• Run the numbers first. Know exactly what the Rollback will cost you before you agree to it. Factor in the price reduction, the expected volume increase, and any incremental supply chain costs. A Rollback that drives volume but erodes margin beyond what you can sustain isn’t a win.
• Get everything in writing. Verbal agreements around pricing changes are one of the most common sources of supplier disputes and audit claims. Confirm dates, quantities, and pricing in writing and make sure approval comes from the right level.
• Coordinate your supply chain. If a Rollback is successful, demand will increase. Make sure your replenishment team, your warehouse, and your logistics partners know what’s coming so you can keep the item in stock throughout the Rollback period. An out-of-stock during a Rollback is a missed opportunity and a red flag for your buyer.
• Communicate proactively. If anything changes– production delays, cost changes, supply issues– let your buyer know early. The suppliers who handle Rollbacks best are the ones who stay ahead of their buyer with accurate, timely information.

Walmart Rollback FAQ

How does the Walmart Rollback work?

A Walmart Rollback is a temporary price reduction on a specific item, typically lasting up to 90 days. The item is displayed with Was/Now pricing and returns to its original price at the end of the Rollback period. The cost of the reduction is often shared between Walmart and the supplier.

How long do Walmart Rollbacks last?

Rollbacks typically last up to 90 days. The exact duration is determined by Walmart and should be confirmed in writing with your buyer.

Does Walmart Rollback online items?

Yes. Rollbacks are available both in Walmart stores and on Walmart.com. Online Rollback items are flagged with Was/Now pricing just like in-store items.

Can any item be placed on Rollback?

Not exactly. Items must have an established price history at Walmart before qualifying for Rollback. New items cannot debut on Rollback since there’s no original price to reference. Items must also be permanent assortment items, not seasonal or one-time buys.

How does Walmart decide what goes on Rollback?

Rollback decisions are typically driven by buyers and are influenced by factors like supplier cost changes, competitive pricing, category performance goals, and overall EDLP strategy. Suppliers can also propose Rollbacks to their buyers, though approval is at Walmart’s discretion.

What is the difference between Rollback and clearance?

Rollback items are permanent assortment items on a temporary price reduction that will return to their original price. Clearance items are products being discontinued or cleared out, often at progressively lower prices, with no intention of restocking.

Are Walmart Rollback prices permanent?

No. Rollbacks are temporary, typically lasting up to 90 days. The item returns to its original price after the Rollback period ends.

Is Walmart Rollback only in stores?

No. Rollbacks are available both in Walmart stores and on Walmart.com.

Can Rollback items be returned at Walmart?

Yes. Because Rollback items are permanent assortment products, they follow Walmart’s standard return policy. This is one of the key differences between Rollback and clearance items, which may have return restrictions.

How 8th & Walton Can Help

Rollbacks are one piece of a much larger picture when it comes to managing your Walmart business. Whether you’re navigating a buyer’s pricing request, trying to understand how a Rollback fits into your cost structure, or looking for support with supply chain planning, 8th & Walton’s team of Walmart experts can help you make the right call.

Our PathFinders consulting program gives you a fractional Walmart team: advisors with deep Walmart experience who work as an extension of your business, so you always have the right expertise in your corner when it matters most.

Conclusion

A Walmart Rollback is a temporary price reduction on a permanent assortment item– distinct from both a traditional sale and clearance in some important ways. For shoppers, it’s a straightforward offer: a lower price for a defined period of time. For suppliers, it’s a strategic tool that requires careful planning, clear documentation, and a solid understanding of what you’re agreeing to.

If you’re a Walmart supplier and want to make sure you’re handling Rollbacks, and every other part of your Walmart relationship, the right way, we’re here to help.

The post What Does Rollback Mean at Walmart? appeared first on 8th & Walton.

When should you send your invoice to Walmart? 8th & Walton’s Heather Reid breaks down Walmart’s recommended invoicing timelines, including ship date, Must Arrive By (MAB) date, and post-receipt invoicing, and explains what actually works best.

Lainie: When is the best time to invoice?

Heather: Walmart actually addresses this in one of their Accounts Payable Claims and Deductions guides. They mention that you can send your invoice on the date your product ships, you can send it on the Must Arrive By date, what they call the MAB date, or you can wait and use a Retail Link tool like NOVA from a receiving point of view, or a PO report, to see what was actually received and then invoice.

However, based on my experience and best practices from doing this for a few years, the Must Arrive By date tends to be the best time to send the invoice to Walmart. That’s because there’s automatic matching within the system. If you send your invoice too early, it can arrive before the product is received, and then it won’t match to the actual receiving. That matching is a key part of Walmart’s system automation.

 

Are you a Walmart Supplier? Get in touch to schedule a free consultation:

3-Minute Insights is produced by 8th & Walton at The Ledger in Bentonville Square. The Ledger offers six fully bikeable stories of private offices, individual coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues. The Ledger’s stunning views and state-of-the-art amenities make it the perfect location for doing business, hosting events, and celebrating life’s milestones, including weddings!

The post Best Time to Invoice Walmart — 3-Minute Insights appeared first on 8th & Walton.