UPDATE: Wal-Mart to sell other retailers' goods online

Furniture from CSN Stores added to mix

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, September 2, 2009

The Bentonville, Ark.-based retail giant said it "has added nearly one million new items to its online product assortment" on Walmart.com.

Consumer purchases from Walmart Marketplace retailers are managed through Walmart.com's secure checkout process. The Marketplace retailer then manages and supports the order, including shipping and handling, customer service, exchanges and returns. Wal-Mart didn't say how the revenue from the sales will be divided.

CSN CEO and co-founder Niraj Shah wouldn't comment on the program beyond saying, "We are delighted to be part of a select group of online retailers that Walmart.com has chosen for this program."

A Walmart.com spokesman declined to elaborate on the number of home furnishings items in the Marketplace, or to disclose details of the company's partner relationships. He also didn't respond to a question about whether the company expects to add more furniture retailers to the site.

Among the expanded categories are home, baby, apparel, toys and sporting goods and sports memorabilia. Walmart.com said it chose retailers for the program based on their "strong customer service track records and large assortments of quality brands and products."

Walmart.com said it will announce additional programs to further expand its online assortment in coming months.