Walmart offers tips for ArkLaMiss entrepreneurs applying to Open Call product pitch competition [Video]

MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Walmart is inviting ArkLaMiss small business owners and entrepreneurs a chance to compete for a spot on its shelves.

The company is accepting applications for its eleventh annual Open Call event. If an entrepreneur’s application is accepted they’ll have a one-on-one meeting with a Walmart/Sam’s Club merchant. Once business owners are offered a deal for Walmart or Sam’s Club to sell their products in stores or online, they can gain access to a large customer base and experience significant growth.

Mark Espinoza, who’s the senior director of public affairs with Walmart’s corporate headquarters, shared tips for entrepreneurs who plan to apply.

“The key thing I’ll tell you though, that you need to be prepared for – it needs to be shelf-ready, and it needs to be either made, grown, or assembled in the U.S. Those are the core areas that we need to kind of focus …