April 27 2022
Walmart is leaning on another popular collaboration to help it increase sales of outdoor living products.
The retailer announced the launch of the Dave and Jenny Marrs collection for Better Homes & Gardens. The line from HGTV celebrities includes “30 home and outdoor décor items designed to create the perfect backyard oasis.”
The set features outdoor furniture, rugs, lanterns, and flowerbeds. Prices range from about $11.97 for a planter to $997 for a teak outdoor dining table.
Julie Barber, senior vice president, Puritans, Walmart US, said in a company blog that the new line “features neutral colors and handcrafted elements of natural wood and terracotta, thick open fabric and antique brass, reflecting the style of Dave and Jenny in their home.”
Walmart hopes that Team Mars fans will enjoy The home remodeling show “Fixer to Fabulous” will be drawn to the curated collection of The “not-so-complete” products that make up the line catch the eye of shoppers who might not have previously thought of the retailer as an outdoor living destination.
“It’s the perfect time to launch this exciting new brand and variety of outdoor living items,” Ms Barber wrote. “Over the past few years, clients have viewed their outdoor spaces as an extension of the coordinated design of their indoor living spaces, and we see this trend continuing. New items will be dropping seasonally, and we are excited to expand into furniture and interior décor in the near future.”
The new line gives Walmart an answer to Target’s Hearth & Hand rival with Magnolia’s collaboration with Chip and Joanna Gaines. Launched in November 2017, the line initially featured 300 gifts, home décor, and table SKUs.
Walmart’s plans for the Marrs Collection are part of a larger focus on being an innovative destination for home products. Last year, the retailer introduced the Gap Home range on walmart.com. Font, which initially appeared more than 400 Bedding, bath and other household items, including products made from organic cotton and recycled materials, have since been expanded to include furniture as well.
Discussion Questions: Will Walmart’s collaboration with Dave and Jenny Marrs help make them a viable home product alternative to Target and the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia line? Would consumers, who previously resisted shopping at Walmart, view it differently based on such cooperation?
“They may not be leading the way in Target’s brand recognition and amazing collaborative initiatives, but I’m excited to see what Walmart brings to the table with this new launch.”
