I am not sure exactly how this works, but I assume that the individual store managers decide when to clearance an item. There are two Walmart stores near me and in my travel I stop at a few other stores and make a quick run through the clearance area. I have seen things on clearance sale at one store and full price at another.

Also, they tend to put stuff on clearance sale at the end of the season. For example: hand warmers at the end of winter. I assume this is both to clear shelf space for spring/summer items and/or because this is the remainder of a product that they no longer carry.

The Walmart near me had Kicks on clearance sale in Feburary (had to pay $11 for mine). It was a month later that the other store in town marked them down. I live in the south and I think the stores down here clear out the winter stuff and bring in the spring stuff earlier than those farther north.

A few things I have noticed:

The clearance area at Wally world is a good place to find cheap gear, you just have to keep checking.

If one store has an item on clearance, other stores may not have it on sale now but they probably will at a later date.

Not every store carries the all of the same things.