Company invites entrepreneurs to pitch new, niche and innovative products at 6th annual event June 18 – 19, 2019
Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TX – If you’ve ever dreamed of potentially reaching thousands of customers with your American products, now is the time to act: Walmart is accepting applications for its 6thannual Open Call, scheduled for June 18 and 19at the company’s Home Office campus in Bentonville, Arkansas. Apply today by visiting Walmart-jump.com for the opportunity to secure a face-to-face pitch meeting with a Walmart buyer. The application deadline is April 30.
This year’s Open Call attendees could secure deals ranging from a handful of stores in local markets, to supplying hundreds, even thousands of stores, Sam’s Clubs and Walmart.com. The two-day event informs, empowers and encourages attendees while providing effective networking opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
“Our customers tell us that products made, sourced or grown in the U.S. are important to them and we work year-round to identify local suppliers and source products that our customers are proud to buy,” said Cindi Marsiglio, Walmart’s vice president of Merchandise Services and U.S. Manufacturing. “Walmart’s Annual Open Call gives us a unique opportunity to meet entrepreneurs from across the country and discover new, niche and innovative products that fill a need for our customers and support jobs right here in America.”
During the 2018 Walmart Open Call, nearly 600 meetings were held with product pitches including toys, apparel, natural health and beauty aids, and food. Prospective suppliers traveled from 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. More than half of the attending businesses self-identified as diverse, including nearly 25 percent identifying as women-owned.
Following last year’s event, a new line-up of products has begun arriving on Walmart shelves and Walmart.com, representing the dreams of dozens of entrepreneurs across the country, including:
- Ahssa Foods LLC, Mesa, Arizona – Low-fat gourmet sauces
- Bodylove Naturals, Rogers, Arkansas – Natural skincare products
- The Cumberland Companies, Knoxville, Tennessee – Fog-free shaving mirror
- Mame’s Burrito Company, Denver, Colorado – Organic breakfast burritos
- The Perfect Granola, Rochester, New York – Naturally sweetened granola bars
- RPM, Savage, Minnesota – Placemats for pet food bowls
- Shoe Crazy, Chesterfield, Virginia – Unique wine blends
- Wings Cosmetics LLC, Andrews, Texas – Winged eyeliner stamp
In January 2013, Walmart announcedits commitment to help boost job creation and U.S. manufacturing through buying an additional $250 billion in products supporting American jobs by 2023. Walmart’s Open Call is one way in which the company continues to invest in this commitment. Last year, Walmart spent $52.4 billion with Texas suppliers, supporting 285,693 local jobs.
Apply for Open Call todayand join the conversation on your social channels by using #WalmartOpenCall
About Walmart in Texas
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices. In Texas we serve customers at 598 retail units and online through Walmart Online Grocery, https://Walmart.comand our family of brands. We are proud to employ 169,930 associates in Texas. Walmart supports local businesses, spending $52.4 billion with Texas suppliers in FYE 2018 and supporting 285,693 Texas supplier jobs. Walmart continues to be a leader in employment opportunity, sustainability, and corporate philanthropy. In FY 2018, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation contributed more than $133.6 million in cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits in Texas and our Texas associates volunteered more than 39,974 hours with local causes. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting our corporate websiteand our Instagram, Facebookand Twitterchannels.
