NEW data has revealed that Walmart and Target have both implemented clever, defensive buying strategies aimed at keeping their costs, and hopefully prices, low.
The front-loading tactic, used to beat the impact of high tariffs, means that shoppers may be able to snag hot products like air fryers, Barbies, Squishmallows, and more without breaking the bank this holiday season.
Walmart has optimized its front-loading strategies to avert massive price hikes on popular products[/caption]
Retail giant Target has similarly taken strides to protect shoppers as the holidays near[/caption]
Shoppers may be able to score popular products such as Barbies and Squishmallows at low prices this holiday season[/caption]
Retail giants including Walmart and Target have scrambled to strategically ship popular items into the country earlier this year as the threat of high tariffs loomed, per container data from ImportGenius.
The digital receipts of their shipping containers highlighted a number of front-loading methods used by the companies, who raced to import several hot products ahead of Trump’s levies and during the period when tariffs were paused.
A wide range of goods were hastily shipped, including Halloween costumes and decorations, holiday décor, air fryers, Barbies, Squishmallows, and Mario Kart characters.
“The front-loading patterns for the companies over the summer of 2024, ahead of the East Coast Longshoremen strike fears; the first few months of 2025, ahead of Liberation Day tariffs; and the unpausing of Chinese shipments in June, which arrived in July; are visible in the charts,” William George, director of research for ImportGenius, told CNBC.
The results are based on data from ImportGenius’ platform, which collects US customs stats but does not represent Target and Walmart’s entire import volume because third-party logistics providers also move goods to these retailers, per ImportGenius.
Popular toy products including Squishmallow building sets, Moana 2 dolls and playsets, Hasbro’s Marvel Spider-Man VenomVersus Liquid Shifter action figures, and Mattel’s Barbie medical doctor doll were all included in shipping receipts.
Because the retail giants were able to secure these items when tariffs were not spiked, it could mean that consumers will not see exorbitant price increases as they conduct their holiday shopping.
DOWN TO THE DETAILS
Target began implementing its front-loading strategy before Walmart, shipping in hot products in January ahead of Lunar New Year, per the ImportGenius data.
The company also scrambled to import goods prior to Liberation Day when the tariff rate was slightly lower.
The timing at which retailers ship products is key in managing costs, even more so now due to the tariffs.
For example, in November, Target had its worst earnings performance in two years, blaming the higher freight costs it incurred due to its decision to proactively move more products into the US before October.
Walmart’s front-loading tactics surged a little later than Target in March, followed by February, the ImportGenius data reveals.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SHOPPERS?
“During the first half of 2025, and in particular around the erratic tariff decisions of the Trump administration in April and May, shippers had to deploy stop-n-go tactics,” Peter Sand, chief shipping analyst at Xeneta, told CNBC.
“Doing it earlier did not bring lower freight cost around – but shippers doing that enjoyed greater predictability and a more even flow of goods.”
What items will be affected by the tariffs?
AMERICANS should prepare to see significant prices changes on everything from avocados to cars under President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs.
Here is a list of some of the everyday products that could see a massive price tag surge.
- Coffee
- Tea
- Bananas
- Foreign-made cars
- Sneakers
- Furniture and other home goods
- Pharmaceuticals
- Video games
- Clothing
- Toys
- Washers and dryers
- Avocados
- Housing materials
Walmart and Target essentially opted to pay higher freight costs by front-loading their goods in order to avoid paying the catastrophic costs that the new tariffs would have tacked on.
While their strategy was mainly about cost mitigation, their defensive move will hopefully trickle down to reasonable prices on toys and other hot commodities when Christmas rolls around.
The U.S. Sun reached out to Walmart and Target for comment but has yet to hear back.
SHIPPING SCRAMBLE
The two retail giants were not the only ones rushing to pull in product at strategic times.
Imports coming in through the country’s top 10 ports from January through April this year were 15.6% higher than 2024, according to stats from supply chain data provider Sea-Intelligence.
The next month, following Trump’s announcement on May 12 that levies on Chinese goods were dropped from 145% to 30%, many US importers resumed some of their shipping orders that had been paused.
Both Target and Walmart, for example, unpaused their cargo shipments.
These containers, based on travel time, were processed through US customs in June and July.
The fast and widespread placement of orders for shipping goods resulted in a significant increase in the prices for shipping via ocean freight, Sand told CNBC.
“Depending on the individual company’s ability to do so – and their supply chain flexibility – some had to pay up during May-June freight rate hikes, while others had already done so back in January-February and March,” he said.
“Going forward, the smarter shippers with access to the right data can increasingly enjoy more resilient and predictable supply chain flows.”
The price changes pushed by tariffs and other store changes have resulted in shoppers switching up their purchasing behavior.
For example, shoppers are boycotting Walmart and Target for rivals Dollar General and Dollar Tree to snap up $1.25 items as prices surge.
Meanwhile, Target is “pushing people to Amazon & Walmart” as shoppers say a policy switch-up sees them “pay up to $4 extra per item.”
Story idea?
If you have an exclusive idea or story tip for The U.S. Sun, feel free to reach out to me at maya.lanzone@the-sun.com!
