HOLIDAYS 2015: Wal-mart reveals its holiday playbook

Walmart said more of its Rollbacks will last at least 90 days this year and be backed by an ad match guarantee and online price match.

To better support mobile shoppers and in-store pickup for items ordered online, the retail giant is revamping its mobile app. Customers will be able to check in from the app when they enter their local store so the pickup counter knows they have arrived.

The approach will appeal to shoppers because as McKenna noted in a blog post, “high-low retailers and pricing games have led to frustrated holiday shoppers who second-guess their purchase decisions throughout the season”. That’s the same time as a year ago. And on November 1, Wal-Mart will add a new capability to its digital wish lists, which enables shoppers to add items by scanning them in-store and makes them searchable for friends and family.

Meanwhile, Wal-Mart announced earlier this month that revenue for the current fiscal year would be flat, down from its previous forecast for sales growth of 1 percent to 2 percent. Target now requires a minimum online order size of $25 to qualify for free shipping.

The retailer also said it was launching a new mobile application to reduce waiting times for in-store pickup of online orders as part of an effort to expand a service in which it believes it has an advantage over rivals, like Amazon.com (AMZN), which lack a bricks-and-mortar presence.

Wal-Mart unveiled a new tool on its mobile app in time for the holiday season.

That’s up from 70 percent a year ago.

Wal-Mart’s U.S. CEO Greg Foran is spearheading a major overhaul of the stores that it expects will resonate with shoppers for the critical holidays. Plans include amplifying its in-store presentation, by playing carols and beefing up its decorations, as well as bringing photos with Santa Claus to many of its locations. The stores have been criticized for messy aisles and not having enough workers restock the shelves.

The discount retailer also said it has struck a deal with Borderfree Inc to ship products to 200 countries and territories outside the US during the holiday season. “It’s going to be a competitive season, but we are ready for it”.