Sam's Club Expanded Customer Product Testing Program
The retailer now uses a 200,000-member feedback loop to refine private-label goods and influence assortment.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Consumer Goods
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As of September 2026, Sam's Club has grown its Member's Mark Community to 200,000 participants to crowdsource product development and ingredient standards. The retailer uses this feedback to adjust private-label offerings and prepare for shifts in consumer spending.
Why it matters
The program helps the retailer mitigate product risk by identifying customer preferences before items reach shelves, a move aimed at capturing the 39% of consumers switching to lower-priced brands.
The Member's Mark Community grew from 50,000 members in June 2024 to 200,000 total participants today. This feedback pool directly prompted the removal of over 40 ingredients from the chain's food and beverage assortment.
The players
Sam's Club
A major warehouse club retailer and division of Walmart that relies on a membership-based model to sell bulk goods and private-label products.
The details
Members participate in the program through surveys, home testing of new products, and organized taste tests. Sam's Club uses this data to refine specifications, such as when 325 members tested specific trash bags, or to inform the launch of new items like strawberry shortcake cookies. By validating demand and quality internally, the company aims to better compete with national brands.
Timeline
Sam's Club established the Member's Mark Community in 2019.
The program expanded to 50,000 members in June 2024.
Participation reached 150,000 members by May 2026.
The Groceryshop conference was held in Las Vegas in September 2026.
Market Landscape
Sam's Club expanded this community program to directly address the documented industry trend of 39% of consumers switching to lower-priced brands. The strategy follows a broader market shift toward private-label dominance as household budgets remain constrained.
Operators should monitor whether customer-led product development results in higher retention compared to traditional SKU rationalization. Pay attention to how effectively private-label items perform against legacy national brands in your own category.
The takeaway
Using consumer communities for product testing can reduce the risk of inventory failure by validating features before a full rollout. Consider whether your business can implement small-scale 'test panels' to gather sentiment on new offerings before committing to large inventory buys.
Further reading
For broader trends in private-label strategy, visit the Consumer Goods section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Biloxi Sun Herald.
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