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Cyber Wal-Mart
Three-month pilot project aimed at remote communities by Nancy Gardiner
NNSL (July 28/97) - Wal-Mart Canada Inc. has started the "cyber shopper," a three-month pilot project using the Internet and aimed at remote communities.
Shoppers can now use browse and order product stocks carried by Wal-Mart stores through a series of web sites, although the selection is only a tiny fraction of the size of a typical store.
Customers can access the cyber shopper via Wal-Mart sites on more than 100 web services from Mt. Pearl, Nfld. to Iqaluit.
"Wal-Mart's cyber shopper program will allow us to offer more Canadians better prices on the products they need most," says David Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Canada Inc.
Potential shoppers are asked to supply postal code. Those who live within the 125-kilometre radius will receive the address and phone number of the nearest store. Those more distant from an outlet will be presented with an on-line catalog.
One reason Wal-Mart decided to test the concept is that it's estimated by Statistics Canada that there are between 250,000 to 800,000 people who reside in Canada's Northern regions (which includes the northern parts of southern provinces).
Orders are confirmed through e-mail then shipped through Canada Post.
The program will be evaluated in the fall based on customer response.
About 100 products would be offered over the Internet. Wal-Mart outlets normally carry about 85,000 products.
Wal-Mart has 137 stores across Canada. |