by Nissa Hanna
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- Walmart is calling all product inventors and budding brands with “Get on the Shelf,” a competition that gives enterprising people a shot at putting their idea on the retailer’s sales floor.
- Shelf-space-seeking hopefuls submit a video touting their product, then campaign for support on social networks or their own website. Shoppers vote for their favorite item candidate, starting on March 7, 2012.
- The top three public-picked ideas will get the opportunity to sell through Walmart.com with free marketing support; the first-place winner “could” (according to the retailer’s website) land a placement in its brick and mortars as well as guidance on scaling up production.
- Get on the Shelf’s website features nominee videos for products like an exercise ball for a small pet, a comfort-enhancing pillow for iPad reading and a manual trash compactor.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- Goliath helping David is a scenario that promotes positivity and hope when times are tough for all, and shows that even big retailers are willing to pitch in to encourage the growth of (select) small businesses.
- Let’s hear it for the inventors and the indie entrepreneurs! A competition taking place on a national stage fosters a sense of pride in plucky peers.
RESOURCES
- Walmart’s Get On The Shelf website
