Walmart to Test Rapid-Remodels of Neighborhood Markets

Next month, several Walmart Neighborhood Markets across five states will try out a new rapid-remodel process designed for quicker results and less customer disruption. Instead of stretching a remodel over several months, Walmart said it is condensing the work to four weeks by temporarily closing the main sales floor (while keeping the pharmacies and fuel stations open) and having the in-store staff help build the update.

“Our store associates are at the heart of everything we do, and they are experts in what our customers want and need,” the company said in a posting on its website. “During the rapid remodels, they will be working alongside our remodel teams, setting up new fixtures, organizing products and preparing the store to welcome customers back.”

The retailer says rethinking its approach to remodeling goes back to founder Sam Walton’s belief in “swimming upstream,” that is, challenging the traditional way of doing things to find a better path for the customer.

“This test is about more than new shelves and lights. It is about listening to our customers, continuing to look for ways to save them time and money, and continuing to evolve alongside the communities we serve.”

The Neighborhood Centers getting the rapid-remodel treatment are in Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina and Louisiana. Overall, Walmart has about 700 such outlets; they are smaller than the chain’s Supercenters (which are typically about 180,000 square feet, while the markets are usually 40,000 to 50,000 square feet) and are most often located in or near urban centers.