Netflix will be expanding its reach to physical stores. In partnership with Walmart, Netflix will be selling its merchandise in a shop called Netflix Hub. This will be available in more than 2,400 Walmart branches. This could be Netflix's way of growing its business after the dwindling number of subscribers this year, according to The Verge.
Netflix Zone
People will be able to buy products like music, apparel, collectibles, games, and seasonal items in the in-store Netflix zones. The items will be in reference to Netflix's hit movies or TV shows like Stranger Things, Squid Game, Witcher, and the upcoming Knives Out sequel.
In addition to that, Netflix and Walmart will be selling gift cards and concession kits. It consists of food items you usually buy in theaters, like popcorn or candy. As for the gift card, it will be $20 worth of a Netflix subscription, which will allow its receiver to get one month of Netflix Premium. This way, users of the Netflix Streaming Gift card won't need a debit or credit card.
Netflix Merchandise
There are still no further announcements that dive into the specifics of what Netlfix would sell. For music, it could be CDs or vinyl records of hit songs that were revived on Netflix like "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush. It could also include famous soundtracks made for Netflix shows like "Enemy" by Imagine Dragons and JID from Arcane.
As for apparel, it could range from fandom t-shirts to costumes. Netflix could sell outfits based on hit TV shows and movies, like the famous green tracksuit from Squid Game, or The Umbrella Academy uniforms. Collectibles would likely be action figures or cards, like the already existing Funko Pops of famous Netflix characters.
The game that would be sold could be in line with Netflix's plan to create AAA games. The streaming company is very well on its way to making more mobile games. Although they already have games like Hextech Mayhem: A League of Legends Story, and Stranger Things: 1984, they will likely develop more.
According to What's On Netflix, new games will be released this coming 2023. There will be an Assassin's Creed game that is yet to be titled, which Netflix will launch. It's an RPG action-adventure mobile game set in ancient China. Famous titles will also get game adaptations like Money Heist, Shadow & Bone, Narcos, and The Queen's Gambit.
Why is Netflix Expanding?
It could just be to make more profits, plain and simple. This may also be Netflix's attempt to make up for the cancellations of subscribers. This is the first time for Netflix, since they had a steady increase in subscribers for years, prior.
The expansion is an addition to Netflix's efforts to retain subscribers. The streaming company has also added more plans and features for a cheaper price.
An example would be the "Basic with Ads" tier where subscribers can subscribe at a lower cost if they're okay with a few ads, as mentioned in Game Spot.
