Walmart Opens Mini General Stores for Travelers
You might have missed the news, but last fall Walmart began rolling out a small-store format geared toward travelers in remote parts of the U.S. in partnership with Getaway, a health and wellness hospitality company.
The alliance, unveiled in July 2022, was forged to roll out multiple innovative offerings such as “The General Store by Walmart” at select Getaway Outposts located in vacation spots, including California's Big Bear Lake and the Catskill Mountains of New York. Getaway Outposts are collections of tiny cabins within a two-hour drive of major cities, rentable by the night. The collaboration marked Walmart as Getaway’s first official retail partner.
The General Store by Walmart is a mini-retail experience offering seasonal products, sourced from Walmart and curated by the outdoor experts at Getaway based on where each store is located, according to a Walmart media release from July. Product assortments include hiking gear, leisure activities and equipment such as vintage-style FujiFilm cameras, lodge cast iron skillets, Pendleton outdoor blankets, snacks, sunscreens and Burt’s Bees lip balms from the Clorox Company. The stores also offer goods from small businesses within the community.
Walmart says the everyday travel essentials are strategically available at the outposts to save guests from having to travel off the property if they forgot an item at home, per the release. For the first six months after each General Store opens, guests also received “welcome kits,” which include all the ingredients needed to make s’mores, at the time of check-in.
The first General Store opened in August at Getaway Hill Country in Wimberley, Texas, not far from Austin and San Antonio. Additional General Stores opened just ahead of 2023 at Machimoodus in Moodus, Connecticut; Getaway Big Bear in Running Springs, California; Getaway Western Catskills in Roscoe, New York; and Getaway Ozark Highlands in Osceola, Missouri.
“At Getaway, our mission is to help people disconnect and spend time in nature,” Carlos Becil, chief experience officer at Getaway, said in the release. “In partnering with Walmart, we are able to amplify our efforts to a larger audience and provide our guests with more free time, helping them prepare for their stays and enjoy the comforts of nature once they arrive.”
Walmart additionally launched a designated Getaway brand shop within Walmart.com, featuring items on sale at the General Store for guests to shop in advance of their visit. The retail giant also promised a complimentary Walmart+ trial to Getaway guests who visit any Outpost through July 2023.
“Walmart’s partnership with Getaway furthers our mission to help people live better no matter where they are,” Casey Schlaybaugh, vice president, brand marketing, Walmart U.S., said in the release. “We are going beyond just saving people money by enabling guests to maximize Getaway’s experience and empowering them to spend more quality time with those who matter most.”
Getaway offers guests disconnected stays in nature located less than a two-hour drive from major cities across the country. The company, which previously said it averages above 84% occupancy across Outposts, had a total of 28 outposts with hundreds of cabins by the end of 2022.