Consumers might find several new products on Walmart store shelves, following the retailer's first-ever open call for over 800 different manufacturers on Tuesday.
Bags, balls, and taco plates were the among the products discussed at Walmart's Arkansas headquarters during the meeting, which CEO Bill Simon hopes will help move the retailer back to making products on American soil, and bring jobs to Northwest Arkansas, according to the City Wire.
"We would love to make these products for Walmart and we have a big private label business, perhaps Great Value in the future," expressed Joseph Rosenberg, vice president of sales at Alurf Plastics. "We sell plastic bags manufactured in Orange (New York). Aluf bags are already sold in lots of retail stores but this is my first pitch to Walmart."
Employees from toy and sporting good company Encor were also on hand to exhibit products to Walmart buyers. The New Jersey-based corporation will make wiffle balls, football tees, and more in its new South Carolina manufacturing facility.
"When you think of the meeting in Orlando last year and the Denver meeting next month, there will be some product suppliers coming in with a laundry list of components and site characteristics they need to make onshoring happen," recalled Walmart's executive vice president of consumables and U.S. manufacturing Michelle Gloeckler. "They will be able to meet with several states and component suppliers all in the course of two days."
Arkansas' governor also spoke the potentially game-changing event.
"A country that does not make anything can never be great," proclaimed Gov. Mike Beebe. "Nobody can match America when we set our mind to it. In Arkansas we believe that workforce training is also crucial to setting up manufacturing hubs. But we can't train these professionals as though they are a farm club for other states. Arkansas is open for business."
