Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 S E P T E M B E R 4 , 2 0 1 7 Walmart has started sourcing some produce locally, including Maine blueberries. It also sells tomatoes from Backyard Farms in Madison. Behind the scenes Walmart is in a strong position now compared to Amazon.com, because of its longer and more extensive in-store and online presence, meaning it has the ability to build up its online advertis- ing business, according to Ed Yruma, managing director of equity research at KeyBanc Capital Markets. Yruma wrote in a recent client note obtained by CNBC that Walmart has been quietly building up is online ad business, open- ing a new revenue channel. Yruma cited as evidence banner ads on Walmart.com by third-party sellers with links to product pages or vendor websites. And the retailer is linking its in-store and online shopping data, off ering up more information about both online and in-store customers than Amazon currently can. Amazon plans to boost its physical presence. In late August, it acquired Whole Foods Market and immedi- ately slashed prices. In its bid to up its online presence, Walmart acquired shopping website Jet.com in August 2016, and subse- quently bought e-commerce women's clothing retailer ModCloth and online men's clothing retailer Bonobos. It also partnered with Google to off er items via Google Assistant, a voice-activated shopping platform. In its second quarter results, Walmart said that the value of what it sold online rose more than 60% over the same quarter last year, though it also America's largest brick-and-mortar retailer. e company said most of the online sales growth was organic through Walmart.com. "In the future people who will do well in retail will understand there are needs that must be met," says Williams. "Brick-and-mortar and online: there's a need for both." L V, Mainebiz senior writer / c o n t e n t s p e c i a l i s t , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t @ . and @LV When starting a business, you have a lot to keep your eye on. Sometimes it's hard to see the opportunities and the risks clearly. That's where Drummond Woodsum attorneys Michael High, Aaron Pratt, Gary Vogel and Lisa Magnacca can help. We provide expertise in all phases of your business, from formation and nancing to strategic relationships and business combinations. It's important for start-ups and young companies to get the legal insight they need, so that they can focus on growing their business. We offer practical, business-focused advice and have shepherded many companies from formation through ultimate sale and liquidity for founders. We practice law differently. Since 1965. dwmlaw.com | 800.727.1941 Entrepreneurship and Innovation are Deeply Rooted in the Maine Economy "FAME helped move our company from a small start-up with two owner- employees to today's four locations and three companies, with 135 part- time and seasonal staff and 20 full-time year-round management staff. Without FAME, our companies would not be where they are today—still growing and profitable. Thank you, FAME! " Joe Christopher President, Three Rivers Helping Maine Businesses Succeed since 1983 Best Places to Work in Maine 2015, 2016, 2017 1-800-228-3734 • FAMEmaine.com We work hard to see We work hard to see We work hard to see We work hard to see We work hard to see We work hard to see We work hard to see We work hard to see We work hard to see where customers are where customers are where customers are where customers are where customers are where customers are where customers are where customers are where customers are where customers are where customers are where customers are heading next and what we need to do to go fast. — Jack Williams Regional manager, Walmart

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