Announcing: Road to Open Call – An Opportunity to Pitch Your Products Directly to Walmart Buyers

The Columbus Chamber of Commerce is excited to share an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners: Walmart’s Road to Open Call! This pre-event serves as a pathway to Walmart’s larger Open Call, giving selected entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their Made in the USA, shelf-ready products directly to a Walmart sourcing representative.

What is Road to Open Call?

This initiative supports American manufacturers by providing product-based small businesses with an exclusive opportunity to meet with a Walmart sourcing representative. No more than 20 applicants will be selected to pitch their shelf-ready products in Columbus on June 18, 2025, and receive expert coaching and insights on scaling their business.

What to Expect:

Please come prepared to discuss with our Sourcing representative why your product belongs on our shelves. You will have 15 minutes to pitch your product and 15 minutes to receive feedback and coaching to help you determine if Open Call is right for you. If you’re well prepared, you might receive an Open Call Fast Pass, guaranteeing your spot at Open Call in October!

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Made, Grown, or Assembled in the USA: Products must be manufactured, grown, or assembled domestically.
• Shelf-Ready: Products must be complete with a URL, barcode, and packaging.
• Proven Scalability: Entrepreneurs should demonstrate a history of scaling their business, such as transitioning from self-manufacturing to using a co-packer or establishing their own manufacturing operations. Demonstrated growth experience is required.
• Purpose-Driven Products: Products should solve a problem or provide differentiated value that resonates with consumers.
• Retail Operations Experience: Participants must have experience managing purchase orders, forecasting demand, and understanding the operational requirements of retail distribution.
• Social Media Marketing Proof Points: Entrepreneurs should present evidence of successful marketing activations, including regional campaigns and go-to-market strategies that demonstrate consumer engagement.
• Online Sales Performance: Applicants must be able to highlight their online growth and execution, showcasing their ability to build a robust digital presence.

Services and other categories found here will not be accepted in this application process.

NOTE: All submissions must be in by May 23, 2025. Those invited to the pitch event will be notified by May 30, 2025. If selected, you must be available for an in-person pitch on June 18, 2025.

Date:

June 18, 2025 (8:30am – 5:30pm EST)

Location:

TBD

Agenda:

• 7:30 AM: Arrive Set-Up
• 8:30 AM: Begin 1-on-1 Pitch Meetings
• 12:30 PM: Lunch
• 1:30 PM: Continue 1-on-1 Pitch Meetings
• 5:30 PM: Debrief with organization