Sam’s Club Paves the Way for the Future in Grapevine, Texas

Reinventing Retail with a Fully Digital Shopping Experience

Sam’s Club marked a significant milestone with the grand opening of its Grapevine, Texas location, which is now a fully digital store that offers a glimpse into the future of retail. The store, which had to close in December 2022 due to tornado damage, has been completely reinvented rather than merely remodeled.

The new Grapevine Sam’s Club introduces several cutting-edge concepts, aiming to merge in-person and online shopping in a way that creates a seamless, omnichannel experience.

Key Features of the Grapevine Sam’s Club:

• The Dance Floor Concept: The store features an omnichannel showroom dubbed “the dance floor,” a large space that integrates both digital and in-person shopping. Customers can explore online-exclusive items, use Scan & Go for effortless shopping, and have purchases shipped directly to their doorsteps.
• Register-Free Shopping: This location eliminates traditional checkout lines. Instead, it allows customers to complete their transactions directly through their phones via Scan & Go, with member specialists available near high-top tables to assist those new to the system.
• Inspiration Spaces: A section of the store is dedicated to online-exclusive products. Customers can engage with items digitally and physically, blending real-world exploration with online purchasing.
• Enhanced Services: The store includes new features like a sushi island, home meal solutions, and digitally enhanced pharmacy, optical, and hearing centers.
• Innovative Store Exit Technology: Sam’s Club has introduced computer vision and digital technology to streamline the exit process. This system automatically captures images of carts and verifies payment for all items, eliminating the need for receipt checks and reducing waiting times for members. This advancement won the 2024 GroceryTech Innovation Award from Progressive Grocer.
• AI and Automation for Associates: The Grapevine store also incorporates new AI and computer vision technologies designed to improve the efficiency of associates’ work environments. These upgrades include a vertical tire carousel, automated forklifts, and even a pizza robot in the cafe.

Sam’s Club’s Vision for the Future:

• Chris Nicholas, Sam’s Club President and CEO, discussed how this transformation connects the physical and digital shopping worlds, emphasizing the innovative nature of combining both in-store and online experiences.
• The Grapevine store serves as a model for future Sam’s Club locations, with its focus on convenience, innovation, and customer experience.

About Sam’s Club:

• Sam’s Club operates 600 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and is a division of Walmart Inc.
• Walmart operates over 10,500 stores globally and is a leader in food and consumables retail. In Progressive Grocer’s 2024 ranking, Walmart is No. 1 in North America, and Sam’s Club ranks No. 8.

With this cutting-edge approach, Sam’s Club is poised to redefine the retail experience, blending AI, digital technologies, and customer-centric services to create a futuristic shopping environment.