Expansion Management

Do You Manufacture in the US? Walmart Wants to Talk to You

May 2, 2014

The Open Call Summit will be focused on new business development on products and categories that are made or grown in the US.

Adrienne Selko

Demonstrating just how serious the company is to achieve the $250 billion in U.S. purchases it has promised to reach, the company announced this week that they are holding an Open Call Summit on July 8^th in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The Open Call Summit will be focused on new business development on products and categories that are made or grown in the US.

At the Summit current suppliers that want to present new categories will be featured alongside suppliers with U.S; manufacturing capabilities who are currently not doing business with Walmart. They’ll have a chance to meet with senior leaders, buyers and Walmart executives.

Typically the vendor rooms are open by appointment only – so this is the first time that Walmart has put out an open invitation to all suppliers – to come on one specific day. They’re expecting hundreds of companies to attend and pitch their products.

The company announced in January 2013 that it would spend $50 billion more on U.S.-made goods. And this was big news. “No company drives retailing trends like Walmart,” said Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). “I salute Walmart for stating this commitment and hope other retailers follow suit in sourcing more high-quality products that are made in America.”

AAM supplied a few interesting facts on Walmart that proves just how influential this company is:

World Rank by economy if Walmart were a country: 19th
Total amount of money spent at Walmart every hour of every day: $36,000,000
Total amount of profit Walmart makes every minute: $34,880
Total sales annually: $405 billion
Total number of customers per week: 100,000,000

Why has the company committed to spending an additional $250 billion on U.S.-made products?

“We believe we can create more American jobs by supporting more American manufacturing. Jump-starting the manufacturing industry and rebuilding the middle class requires a national effort by companies, industry leaders, lawmakers and others,” the company proclaimed.

According to data from its suppliers, items that are made, sourced or grown in America already account for about two-thirds of what the company spends to buy products at Walmart U.S.

However they want to increase this and will work with suppliers to:

Increase what we already buy of U.S. manufactured goods
Source “new to Walmart” U.S. manufactured goods
Re-shore the manufacturing of goods we currently buy by facilitating and accelerating efforts of our suppliers

The review process will close on June 6^th – if applicants are selected for the Summit, they will be notified by June 17^th.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.