U.S. inventors get annual shot to sell directly to Walmart

U.S. inventors get annual shot to sell directly to Walmart

Walmart, the massive retail giant with annual revenues of nearly $490 billion, for the fifth straight year is giving entrpreneurs across the country the chance to pitch their products directly to the company’s buyers in Arkansas on June 28.

If you want to take a shot at getting your product on Walmart shelves, either regionally or nationally, you can register for the competition at Walmart-jump.com.

In 2013, Walmart pitched the 10-year plan to buy more than $50 billion of American-made goods for its stores. The retail chain has long been criticized by its laser focus on lowering costs, forcing it to buy most of the goods in its stores from foreign sources. The company launched the program to head off some of that criticism but also as a realization that shipping costs and quality concerns are making American-made products more competitive.

Each year, the company points out companies from each of the states that have benefitted from the program. This year, for Illinois, Walmart highlighted Bullibone Products, an Illinois company that makes long-lasting nylon dog chews.