DISCUSSION
Will Walmart’s KIDBOX help kids look good and do good at the same time?
Written by George Anderson
Photos: Walmart, KIDBOX
Think Stitch Fix’s fashion subscription service for kids without the stylist fees. Also think about four or five curated clothing items arriving in a box at about 50 percent off the suggested retail price. That’s what you reportedly get with a newly announced subscription offer from Walmart.com and its partner, KIDBOX.
The new program, the first of its kind for Walmart, offers customers on the retailer’s site the ability to personalize choices from more than 120 premium kids’ brands, including many items not found in the chain’s stores.
Subscribers go to Walmart.com and complete a short style quiz to place their first order. KIDBOX combines data-driven machine learning and human stylists to tailor items in each box that match the personal fashion preferences of individual children, taking into account the season of the year and area of the country where they live.
The boxes include items for girls in sizes zero to 14 and boys zero to 16. Parents have the option of placing orders for on-demand delivery or scheduling up to six deliveries a year to coincide with seasons, back-to-school and holidays.
“Over the last year, we have significantly expanded our portfolio of kids’ fashion brands as part of our broader effort to establish Walmart.com as a destination for fashion,” said Denise Incandela, head of fashion, Walmart U.S. eCommerce, in a statement. “Our partnership with KIDBOX enables us to round out our offering with additional national and premium kids’ brands.”
Walmart.com has added over 100 new kids’ brands to its site over the past year, including Betsey Johnson, Kapital K, Levi’s, Limited Too and The Children’s Place.
KIDBOX, as part of its core mission, will donate clothing to needy children with every purchase. The company was founded in 2016 with a mission of donating clothing to one million kids in need. So far, KIDBOX has donated over $15 million in new clothing since its launch.
“We pride ourselves on understanding kids' fashion preferences while also creating moments for them to learn about the importance of giving back,” said Miki Berardelli, KIDBOX CEO. “We look forward to bringing KIDBOX to even more parents and kids, inspiring them to do good in their communities.”