Don’t Forget to Report Your Store Closures

Springs in bloom while we’re all in back to back Zooms

Hey Vendorville,

Spring is in the air, PTO requests are rolling in, and those Q2 holidays (Easter, Mothers Day, Memorial Day) are lining up one after the other. Before you toss your laptop in the closet and head for the nearest patio, make sure Walmart knows when your doors aren’t going to be open for business.

Unplanned or unreported store closures can lead to order chaos, OTIF issues, and serious supply chain side-eye. Whether you’re observing a holiday, doing maintenance, or just need a breather, reporting your closures the right way keeps the orders from piling up.

The Low Down on Walmart Closures

In Walmart terms, a store closure refers to any scheduled or unscheduled pause in operations—whether that’s due to a holiday, maintenance, inventory reset, or another temporary shutdown. These closures can happen on the supplier side (like a warehouse or ship point) or on Walmart’s side (such as a DC or store).

Why does this matter? If Walmart isn’t aware that your facility is closed, the system will continue generating orders and scheduling pickups or deliveries as if everything is operating normally. This can lead to missed delivery appointments, delays, and OTIF penalties that could have been avoided.

Closures have a ripple effect across your supply chain, impacting carrier coordination, inventory planning, and overall performance. That’s why it’s important to communicate them clearly and in advance—so Walmart can prepare accordingly, and your business can keep running smoothly.

How to Report a Store Closure

Walmart suppliers can report planned closures through either the Aspen app in Retail Link or via Ship Point Management in Supplier One. Before you begin, make sure to align with your Walmart Merchant or Merch Ops contact on your closure plans.

The steps are nearly identical on both platforms:

Log in to Retail Link, navigate to Aspen or Supplier One, and navigate to Ship Point Management.
In Aspen, go to the “Override Events” tab and click “Add New.”
In Ship Point Management, click “Create New” and select “Override Event.”
For each window (Receiving, Shipping, and Delivery), choose:
- Open (Walmart can send orders)
- Closed (Walmart can’t send orders)
- No change (leave it as is)
Select the appropriate lanes and click “Save & Submit.”

Pro tip: Even after submitting, you can go back and edit your events using the pencil icon under “Action.”

Just a reminder: System-generated orders will be blocked when marked closed—but manual POs can still sneak through.

Reporting store closures: so your day off doesn’t look like this.

Best Tips and Practices for Closings

Align with Your Walmart Contact
Before making any updates in Aspen or Supplier One, connect with your Walmart Merchant or Merch Ops contact to review your closure plans. This ensures everyone’s on the same page and reduces the risk of surprise orders.
Communicate with Your Carriers
Notify your logistics partners in advance so they can adjust pickup times, plan alternate delivery routes, or reassign capacity where needed. A heads-up can go a long way in maintaining smooth operations.
Monitor Your Must Arrive By Dates (MABDs)
Review your MABDs early—especially around holidays or planned shutdowns. OTIF compliance depends on hitting these dates, even during high-closure seasons.

Review Your Shipping Patterns
Look at historical data to identify any recurring conflicts between shipping schedules and closure dates. Updating your forecasts or using predictive analytics can help prevent repeated disruptions.

Retailer News 🗞️

Supply Chain Dive

UPS Slaps Temporary Fee on China-to-US Shipments

“The $0.29 per pound surcharge is active until March 29, adding to other expenses parcel shippers are navigating.”

Retail Dive

Walmart Expands Premium Beauty Options

“The retail giant also announced the four brands that will participate in its third beauty accelerator program, Walmart Start.”

CNBC

PepsiCo Buys Prebiotic Soda Brand Poppi for Nearly $2 Billion

“PepsiCo is buying prebiotic soda brand Poppi for $1.95 billion, which includes $300 million of anticipated cash tax benefits.”

⭐ Rick’s Tips ⭐

“Amazon’s payment terms outline when suppliers will be paid after invoicing—typically in 30-day increments. While NET 30–60 was once standard, Amazon has increasingly shifted toward NET 60, 90, or even 120. These extended terms can help negotiation leverage but may strain cash flow. Suppliers should weigh the trade-off and consider negotiating for benefits like reduced fees. Terms are categorized as NET (based on invoice date) or EOM (based on the end of the month). ”

Let's Circle Back

Wise words, Mr. Krabs, wise words. Sometimes, the best move is to close up shop and catch a break. Whether it’s for a holiday, a quick reset, or just a mental recharge, planning ahead for closures keeps your supply chain smooth – and your sanity intact.

Need a little inspiration for where to spend that much needed downtime? Travel + Leisure just dropped their Top Vacation Spots for 2025, and let’s just say… we’re very close to logging off.

We’re not saying you should report a closure just to go to Malta, but we’re not not saying it either.😉

Until Next Time,

Vendorville ♥️