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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart on Monday opened the application period for its ninth annual Open Call event, which will give companies a chance to pitch their American-made products to the giant retailer.
Open Call — scheduled for June 28 and 29 — is Walmart’s largest sourcing event that is dedicated to bringing products made, grown or assembled in the U.S. to Walmart and Sam’s Club shoppers across the country, both in-store and online. Walmart has made a 10-year commitment to invest $350 billion in such products as a way of supporting American jobs.
This year, for the first time, Walmart offered an exclusive early access period for Marketplace sellers to apply for Open Call, resulting in more than 2,000 companies registering more than 6,000 items they hope to present to merchants. If selected, participants will be able to choose from virtual or in-person pitch meetings with a Walmart or Sam’s Club merchant during the June 28-29 event.
Walmart is also offering mentoring sessions to all applicants registering for the event, to provide them with the tools to become successful selling on Walmart’s virtual and physical shelves. In addition to sourcing new products, Open Call also aims to expand the work the retailer is already doing with current online sellers. Applications for the two-day hybrid event will be accepted through April 8, the company said.
“We know how much supporting American products and American jobs truly does matter to our suppliers, entrepreneurs, sellers and local communities,” says Laura Phillips, Walmart senior vice president for Global Sourcing & U.S. Manufacturing. “With all the new tools and resources available this year, we’re hoping we can foster growth for many more businesses and Walmart Marketplace sellers that already work with us, along with those that are just getting started.”
Applicants who receive a one-on-one product pitch meeting invitation will be given 30 minutes to showcase to Walmart and/or Sam’s Club merchants why their product and business should join the Walmart family. Entrepreneurs can secure deals ranging from supplying products to a handful of local stores to supplying hundreds of Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs as well as Walmart.com. In addition to the product pitch meetings, Open Call includes breakout sessions featuring Walmart and Sam’s Club leaders and special guests to provide suppliers and sellers with valuable insights and to offer additional resources available.
In its ninth year, Walmart’s annual Open Call event continues to grow in popularity with small businesses across the country. Last year’s event saw more than 900 small and medium-sized businesses from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico pitch their products to Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants.
Businesses wishing to apply for this year’s Open Call event can apply here. Anyone wishing to learn more about becoming a Walmart Marketplace seller can click here.
