Walmart is gearing up to revolutionize the retail experience by venturing into the metaverse, offering customers the opportunity to purchase physical versions of items featured in its virtual world called House Flip. The retail giant is set to introduce a range of new décor items from brands like Mainstays and Better Homes and Gardens into House Flip, enabling users to virtually explore these items and then proceed to purchase their physical counterparts.
Thomas Kang, the General Manager of Metaverse Commerce at Walmart, revealed in an interview with VentureBeat that customers will be able to seamlessly complete transactions for both physical and virtual goods using their Walmart accounts without leaving the virtual environment. Kang, part of Walmart’s innovation arm, emphasized the potential to reshape and reinvent the retail landscape for the benefit of customers through this metaverse integration.
Walmart’s foray into the metaverse began earlier this year when it collaborated with game developer FUN-GI to launch House Flip. This mobile virtual environment, available on iOS and Android, empowers players to renovate and sell virtual homes.
Furthermore, Walmart has ventured into the realm of virtual fashion with its Scoop clothing brand. Customers can now outfit their avatars with virtual clothing within Zepeto, Asia’s largest metaverse platform.
Kang expressed Walmart’s commitment to aiding companies and brands in selling their products within virtual worlds, hinting at the company’s plans to test more virtual experiences in the coming year. He also suggested the possibility of rewarding customers with virtual items when they make in-store physical purchases, enhancing the synergy between the physical and virtual retail realms.
Walmart’s vision includes ensuring that these virtual shopping environments are accessible on various devices, all while upholding the company’s values and prioritizing the safety and needs of its diverse customer base. Kang emphasized Walmart’s commitment to digital citizenship and its aspiration to establish secure and inclusive virtual spaces for everyone, positioning the company as a leader in trust and safety within the metaverse.