Buddy Technologies Limited’s (ASX:BUD) LIFX range of smart lights is to launch in the Walmart owned and operated Sam’s Club in the US.
Walmart, Inc. has nearly 600 warehouses across the United States, and is second only to Costco Wholesale Corp. the warehouse club retail segment.
Sam’s Club is expected to launch their LIFX range with a two-pack of LIFX Clean, slated for US$99.99, and to be available on their online shopping site.
The broader range of LIFX products will be stocked next quarter, with LIFX and Sam’s Club anticipating in-store availability at their warehouse club stores in 2021.
CEO David McLauchlan said that together with the company’s previous announcements about assortment at Costco and Lowe’s, this new partnership is expected to take LIFX to substantially more than 3000 new major “big box” retail locations in 2021, more than tripling the on-shelf availability of LIFX products in the United States.
Mr McLauchlan also confirmed that following the company’s recent commentary about emerging from a low-stock point on LIFX smart lights, significant replenishment stock has arrived in the United States (with Europe and Australia following shortly).
He said this stock has already commenced distribution to Best Buy stores, and will shortly commence distribution to Lowe’s stores such that both will be stocked against their full orders prior to Thanksgiving, the traditional commencement of the American holiday shopping season.
In addition, all stock going to new retailers will be in the company’s new lower-cost, lighter-weight and more environmentally friendly packaging. In addition to realising real cost savings, the new packaging designs have tested very positively in terms of consumer awareness and shelf presence.
Mr McLauchlan said this is an important step in the company’s Big Eight Goals for 2020 and will have a direct positive impact on margins.