Walmart wants you — and your products
Entrepreneurs across the U.S. have a chance to pitch their products to the country’s biggest retailer.
Now through April 30, Walmart is accepting applications for its sixth annual Open Call for made-in-America merchandise. Open Call is a two-day event where Walmart buyers meet face-to-face with hundreds of aspiring suppliers, who showcase their products. This year’s event will be held June 18-19 at Walmart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.
Walmart says Open Call is included in a larger commitment it made in 2018 to purchase an additional $250 billion in products made, sourced or grown in the U.S. by 2023. During the June 2018 event, 350 businesses from 46 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico met with Walmart buyers. At least eight have gotten their products on Walmart shelves, including providers of gourmet sauces, natural skincare products, and wine blends.
More than half of all businesses attending Open Call self-identify as diverse, including nearly 25% identifying as women-owned.
“So why do we hold this event?” said Cindi Marsiglio, Walmart VP for merchandising services and U.S. manufacturing, in a corporate blog post. It’s simple: At Walmart, we believe that supporting American products and American jobs makes sense for our customers, our community and our company.”
Now through April 30, Walmart is accepting applications for its sixth annual Open Call for made-in-America merchandise. Open Call is a two-day event where Walmart buyers meet face-to-face with hundreds of aspiring suppliers, who showcase their products. This year’s event will be held June 18-19 at Walmart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.
Walmart says Open Call is included in a larger commitment it made in 2018 to purchase an additional $250 billion in products made, sourced or grown in the U.S. by 2023. During the June 2018 event, 350 businesses from 46 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico met with Walmart buyers. At least eight have gotten their products on Walmart shelves, including providers of gourmet sauces, natural skincare products, and wine blends.
More than half of all businesses attending Open Call self-identify as diverse, including nearly 25% identifying as women-owned.
“So why do we hold this event?” said Cindi Marsiglio, Walmart VP for merchandising services and U.S. manufacturing, in a corporate blog post. It’s simple: At Walmart, we believe that supporting American products and American jobs makes sense for our customers, our community and our company.”