Walmart Joins Other Retailers in Early Holiday Sales

A perfect storm of bloated inventories, economic conditions and scary stories is brewing up holiday shopping deals from major retailers that are weeks ahead of Black Friday and even before Halloween candy and costumes are purchased.

Kicking off and perhaps replacing sales traditionally associated with Columbus Day — federally replaced as Indigenous People Day last year — Walmart’s “Rollbacks and More” savings event starts Monday, Oct. 10 at 5 a.m. ET, with deals running through Thursday, Oct. 13, according to an email sent to PYMNTS on Tuesday (Oct. 4).

See also: Earliest Holiday Shopping Events Pit ‘Christmas Creep’ Against ‘Sales Fatigue’

Walmart is just the latest retail behemoth plugging holiday deals and a super sales event around the time frame of the former Columbus Day shopping tradition. Amazon announced a two-day holiday sale exclusive to Prime members Oct. 11 through Oct. 12 and Target is launching deal days Oct. 6 through Oct. 8.

Target is looking to whittle down its inventory, a continuing issue in August after it was first brought up in May and one that the retailer has been continuously addressing, PYMNTS reported earlier this week. The Minnesota, Minneapolis-headquartered retailer is launching the return of Target Deal Days, offering deep discounts on holiday items as well as sales on some everyday essentials.

Read more: Walmart Launches Curbside Returns, Walmart+ Return Pickup From Home

During Walmart’s October “Rollbacks and More” savings event, customers shopping early can find discounts on electronics, home, toys, fashion and more.

Last month,  Walmart said it was approaching the holiday season by making it easier for consumers to make returns, PYMNTS reported. In addition to curbside returns, and return pickups from home, Walmart consumers can make returns on all purchases made on or after Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, 2023.

Related: Retailers Retool to Attract Deal Seekers as ‘Value’ Takes Center Stage