Emerging Enterprises host a "How to do Business with Walmart" Seminar

By Monica Willey, HTIA

The morning of October 13, 2009, Frank Machuca, Walmart store manager, came to Emerging Enterprises, the GAHCC business incubator, to discuss the potential opportunities to engage in business with Walmart. The presentations covered information about Walmart’s Supplier Diversity Program, how to become a Walmart supplier/service provider, and provided the contacts to become a local Walmart supplier/service provider.

The Walmart Supplier Diversity focus is to identify new Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and to increase MWBE’s opportunities. A Walmart benefit to this initiative is many MWBE suppliers have unique insights into the wants and needs of the ever-changing customer base. Another advantage is providing a continued commitment to the locally owned business partners in the communities that we serve. Walmart recognizes the ever-changing make up of their customer base and makes it a point to keep the supplier base evolving and more diverse.

At the seminar, the emphasis was placed on the potential opportunities in the regional product market. Walmart stated that there is still room for more competitive suppliers.

If you are interested in conducting business with Walmart, review this checklist first.  Your company must be:
• Experienced in its core business
• Have the ability to achieve scale
• Financially stable
• A proven success in the marketplace
• Competitive in its pricing

For more information on improving your business, contact Monica Willey at mwilley(at)gahcc.org or (512)928-2594.