Dive Brief:
- Walmart has partnered with pet virtual care company Pawp to offer free pet telehealth services to Walmart+ members, the retail giant announced Wednesday.
- Starting later this year, Walmart+ members can access veterinarians and licensed veterinary techs on demand via text and video and receive post-visit product recommendations, the retailer said.
- While piloting the Pawp benefit for Walmart+ subscribers, the retailer found that the service was the company’s most successful limited-time offer of last year.
Dive Insight:
Walmart continues to enhance its subscription service with perks — this time with free, unlimited access to veterinary experts. The feature is tailored to the more than three-fourths of Walmart+ members who are pet owners.
“Our focus has always been on evolving Walmart+ in a way that puts our members first. Seeing how well-received Pawp was as a limited-time offer, we knew it was a valuable addition that would enhance the Walmart+ experience,” Venessa Yates, senior vice president and general manager of Walmart+, said in a statement. “This new benefit illustrates our continued evolution, as we strive to provide seamless, time-saving and affordable solutions tailored to our members’ needs.”
Outside of its Walmart+ membership, the retailer has also been dabbling in other pet-related offerings. Last September, the company unveiled its first Pet Services Center in Dallas, Georgia, complete with services like vaccines, minor medical services, baths, teeth cleanings and nail trims. The retailer also allows consumers to fill pet prescriptions at their local Walmart store.
Meanwhile, other pet retailers are catering to customers seeking pet care coverage. Petco and Nationwide teamed up earlier this year to offer customizable pet health insurance, allowing customers to protect their dogs, cats, reptiles, rodents as well as avian and exotic animals. Similarly, Chewy has its own Connect with a Vet service and expects to open its first veterinary clinic.
Walmart recently announced it will end its consumer telehealth services and will shutter all 51 of its health centers because it could not turn a profit.
