Month: May 2019

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Thanks to https://www.allbusiness.com/sell-product-walmart-121701-1.html

Is your dream to sell your product to Walmart? Small business owners everywhere dream of getting their products on the shelves at Walmart—and thanks to Walmart’s commitment to American-made products, that dream can become a reality.

Back in 2013, Walmart pledged that by 2023, it would purchase approximately $250 billion in products supporting the creation of American jobs. Since then, the retailer has held an Open Call event for U.S.-manufactured products every year.

Both current Walmart suppliers hoping to expand their product mix and would-be suppliers trying to get a foot in the door attend Open Call, where they have the opportunity to meet Walmart buyers and pitch their products. In 2018, business owners from more than 450 businesses visited Open Call selling everything from sportswear to salsa. The prize for getting approved: having your American-made products on Walmart or Sam’s Club store shelves or sold on Walmart.com.

Even entrepreneurs who don’t get approved at Open Call say they learn a lot about improving their products, thanks to the advice of Walmart buyers, and many come back to try again. Attending Open Call can be a small business’s big break.

Can you pitch your product at Open Call?

Before you apply for Open Call, you have to meet certain requirements.

Preparing to sell your product to Walmart buyers

To succeed at Open Call, it’s vital to know what Walmart buyers are looking for. Of course, since low prices are Walmart’s hallmark, price is important, but it isn’t the only thing buyers consider (or even the most important). The three key attributes that Walmart buyers look for are:

  1. Does this product solve a key customer need?
  2. Does the quality of the product exceed my customers’ expectations?
  3. Does this product provide customers with a good value?

Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:

Here’s how to boost your odds of a successful pitch.

  • Be prepared: Have samples of your product ready. If it’s a food product or an item that needs assembly, make sure you have the selling unit and the finished product at the meeting.
  • Know your costs: Be ready to offer your best price upfront. This isn’t the time to haggle: If buyers think you’re trying to pitch them something that’s priced too high, they won’t trust you. Start with the lowest cost so the buyer can immediately assess the value of your product and make a decision.
  • Offer a strategy: Before you pitch a Walmart buyer, you must understand the stores, the website, and how they merchandise products.  Be able to explain how your product would fit into the store’s overall product mix and have ideas for where it should be placed.
  • Provide insights: Can you explain why your product is important to Walmart customers? You need to show what problem it solves and provide evidence that this is a viable product that customers will buy. Demonstrating that you’ve done your homework helps convince buyers your product will sell.
  • Be brief: Pitches may vary in length depending on how many items you’re pitching and how complex they are. Generally, though, most supplier meetings last about 30 minutes—and that needs to include any questions that buyers may have. Plan your presentation with that time frame in mind.
  • Make it memorable: You don’t have a lot of time, so make sure your presentation includes images, costing, the history of your business, and your contact information. This helps the buyer remember you and your product after the meeting.

Open Call helps U.S. workers

Some two-thirds of Walmart’s U.S. merchandise spending is for items made, assembled, grown, or sourced in the United States. Over the life of the Open Call initiative, Walmart estimates its commitment to American-made products could create as many as 1 million new jobs.

This year’s Open Call application window has closed. If you want to learn more and get ready to apply next year, sign up to receive Open Call updates. Applications are typically accepted beginning in March.

RELATED: Go Beyond Amazon: Small Businesses Today Must Take a Multi-Site Approach to E-Commerce

The post How to Successfully Sell Your Product to Walmart appeared first on AllBusiness.com

The post How to Successfully Sell Your Product to Walmart appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Rieva Lesonsky.

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Thanks to https://www.allbusiness.com/sell-product-walmart-121701-1.html

Is your dream to sell your product to Walmart? Small business owners everywhere dream of getting their products on the shelves at Walmart—and thanks to Walmart’s commitment to American-made products, that dream can become a reality.

Back in 2013, Walmart pledged that by 2023, it would purchase approximately $250 billion in products supporting the creation of American jobs. Since then, the retailer has held an Open Call event for U.S.-manufactured products every year.

Both current Walmart suppliers hoping to expand their product mix and would-be suppliers trying to get a foot in the door attend Open Call, where they have the opportunity to meet Walmart buyers and pitch their products. In 2018, business owners from more than 450 businesses visited Open Call selling everything from sportswear to salsa. The prize for getting approved: having your American-made products on Walmart or Sam’s Club store shelves or sold on Walmart.com.

Even entrepreneurs who don’t get approved at Open Call say they learn a lot about improving their products, thanks to the advice of Walmart buyers, and many come back to try again. Attending Open Call can be a small business’s big break.

Can you pitch your product at Open Call?

Before you apply for Open Call, you have to meet certain requirements.

Preparing to sell your product to Walmart buyers

To succeed at Open Call, it’s vital to know what Walmart buyers are looking for. Of course, since low prices are Walmart’s hallmark, price is important, but it isn’t the only thing buyers consider (or even the most important). The three key attributes that Walmart buyers look for are:

  1. Does this product solve a key customer need?
  2. Does the quality of the product exceed my customers’ expectations?
  3. Does this product provide customers with a good value?

Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:

Here’s how to boost your odds of a successful pitch.

  • Be prepared: Have samples of your product ready. If it’s a food product or an item that needs assembly, make sure you have the selling unit and the finished product at the meeting.
  • Know your costs: Be ready to offer your best price upfront. This isn’t the time to haggle: If buyers think you’re trying to pitch them something that’s priced too high, they won’t trust you. Start with the lowest cost so the buyer can immediately assess the value of your product and make a decision.
  • Offer a strategy: Before you pitch a Walmart buyer, you must understand the stores, the website, and how they merchandise products.  Be able to explain how your product would fit into the store’s overall product mix and have ideas for where it should be placed.
  • Provide insights: Can you explain why your product is important to Walmart customers? You need to show what problem it solves and provide evidence that this is a viable product that customers will buy. Demonstrating that you’ve done your homework helps convince buyers your product will sell.
  • Be brief: Pitches may vary in length depending on how many items you’re pitching and how complex they are. Generally, though, most supplier meetings last about 30 minutes—and that needs to include any questions that buyers may have. Plan your presentation with that time frame in mind.
  • Make it memorable: You don’t have a lot of time, so make sure your presentation includes images, costing, the history of your business, and your contact information. This helps the buyer remember you and your product after the meeting.

Open Call helps U.S. workers

Some two-thirds of Walmart’s U.S. merchandise spending is for items made, assembled, grown, or sourced in the United States. Over the life of the Open Call initiative, Walmart estimates its commitment to American-made products could create as many as 1 million new jobs.

This year’s Open Call application window has closed. If you want to learn more and get ready to apply next year, sign up to receive Open Call updates. Applications are typically accepted beginning in March.

RELATED: Go Beyond Amazon: Small Businesses Today Must Take a Multi-Site Approach to E-Commerce

The post How to Successfully Sell Your Product to Walmart appeared first on AllBusiness.com

The post How to Successfully Sell Your Product to Walmart appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Rieva Lesonsky.

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What is the best way to build your personal brand when attending or participating in online events?

These answers are provided by Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year and have created tens of thousands of jobs. Learn more at yec.co.

1. Share Advice

Even if you’re not a speaker or hosting the online event, you can still build your personal brand by sharing your advice with other attendees. For instance, if you’re participating in a webinar and someone in the chat asks a question that doesn’t get answered, you can answer it. Share your own personal advice and how it helps with your business in the chat to help others and promote your brand.- Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms

2. Engage In Discussions 

You don’t have to self-promote if people remember you as someone worth their attention. The best way to come across as an interesting person is to be interested in others. Engage in conversations with other people, ask them questions, encourage them to share their expertise and bring something valuable to them by sharing yours. Be active and they will Google you after the event. – Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS

3. Continue the Contact

Request the email addresses for all participants and continue to maintain contact after the online event. Send emails after the presentation thanking them for their attendance and begin to initiate further communication. The best way to build relationships and your brand is through numerous interactions. One single event is likely not enough to create brand awareness or recognition.- Matthew Podolsky, Florida Law Advisers, P.A.

4. Offer a Demo

One of the best ways to build your personal brand when attending or participating in online events is by offering a free demo so potential leads can see what your product does or learn how it will add value to their life. You don’t have to go over the top or use an outlandish sales pitch — simply let people know why they should choose your brand by offering a demonstration of your product or service.- Blair Williams, MemberPress

5. Start a Unique Discussion

When attending an online event, there are likely to be many different discussions occurring based around a predetermined schedule of live streams or roundtable discussions. My advice is for you to find a topic that is interesting and pertinent but underrepresented and start talking about that. People will be drawn to you out of curiosity, giving you a chance to build your brand. – Bryce Welker, Crush The CPA Exam

6. Share Your Brand Story

Everyone has a story of how their personal branding came to be, and you can use yours to entice people to want to know more about its inception. Sometimes the most compelling thing about a business is how it started because many stories follow a “rags to riches” storyline. Use your branding story to entice others to want to know more about your business and what it stands for. – Jared Atchison, WPForms

The post Six Effective Ways to Brand Yourself at Online Events appeared first on Personal Branding Blog – Stand Out In Your Career.

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Best Cities for Small Businesses

Our 2019 rankings of the Best Cities for Small Businesses identify the top 10 cities where small businesses thrive. There are cities across the country where small businesses have an important foothold in the local economies.

For the purposes of these rankings, small businesses are defined as those with fewer than 50 employees.

Our rankings are based on our latest research of U.S. Census data. The rankings reflect the percentage of small businesses to the overall population in metropolitan areas of the United States with over 50,000 people. We also identify factors such as industry clusters, lifestyle, infrastructure, costs, workforce availability and a thriving entrepreneurial community nearby.

Read on for the Best Cities for Small Businesses, 2019 edition.

Best Cities for Small Businesses

1. Miami

Miami is a city of contrasts — a huge metropolis that is also a haven for small business. You will find 134,332 small business owners in the metro area. They make up 2.20% of the population, earning Miami the top spot this year.

The city offers not only a welcoming environment for small businesses but a feast for the eyes as well. The city is home to the largest collection of art deco architecture in the world. Most of the city’s buildings were constructed between 1923 and 1943 so visiting the city is like stepping back in time.

One of the advantages of Miami small businesses is the growing population. Florida itself is the third most populated state, and growth has exploded.

“Alligator Alley or simply ‘the Alley’ is the local name for the portion of I-75 that runs between Miami on the east coast, and Naples and Fort Myers on Florida’s west coast. The easy 2-hour drive across the Alley enables small businesses such as landscapers, electricians, IT consultants, interior designers and others to serve both coasts, widening their markets. When I first moved here I was surprised at the amount of daily crossover among niche service providers,” says Anita Campbell, founder of Small Business Trends Media, which is headquartered in Naples, Florida.

2. New York

With the iconic Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, it’s easy to think of New York City as huge and focused on big businesses. But this city is also big for small businesses. A total of 411,323 small business owners live and work in the metro area, making up 2.03% of the total population. Leading industries are professional, scientific and technical services.

While it may seem large and intimidating to some in other parts of the country, local entrepreneurs  tout the support system for small businesses. “You’ve got the NYC Department of Small Business Services all the way to an SBA office, a SCORE office, and a huge menu of entrepreneur and small business organizations such as NAWBO, BNI, Unfair Advantage, Adrian’s Network and many more,” says Ramon Ray, entrepreneur and author of Celebrity CEO.

3. Portland

Though best known today for its hipster culture, Portland also deserves credit for the small businesses it nurtures. There are 44,407 small business owners who live and operate companies in the metro area. They make up 1.83% of the city’s population and work in the professional, scientific and technical services.

The Portland Business Alliance offers free small business advice and a small business management scholarship program among other features.

4. Los Angeles

It may be a sprawling metropolis, but within this massive city, small businesses have definitely found a home.  Los Angeles has 243,461 small business entrepreneurs making up 1.83% of the metro area’s population. They are mainly in the professional, scientific and technical services.

Despite its size, this metropolis also offers a wealth of resources aimed directly at the small business community. For example, Los Angeles County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs maintains an Office of Small Business offering small business events, reference programs and procurement of technical assistance.

5. San Francisco

The city by the bay may be known for its Victorian architecture. But San Francisco should also be known for the small business entrepreneurs who are building companies every bit as important to the city’s character. In fact, 84,324 small business owners make the metro area their home. That’s 1.79% of the region’s population, working in the professional, scientific and technical services.

San Francisco also offers a variety of resources for its small business community, perhaps most notably an annual Small Business Expo that has been going on since 2008.

6. Denver

Boulder, Colorado may be better known as the home for startup incubators like Techstars. But Denver may be the place to start your small business. 50,619 small business entrepreneurs call the city home. That’s 1.77% of the population, working in the professional, scientific and technical services.

The city provides not just a great small business atmosphere but great attractions to interest just about everyone and make it easier for you to recruit talent. Attractions include rock climbing, the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, the Denver Botanical Gardens and more.

7. Seattle

Home to the iconic Pike Place Market, one of the oldest farmer’s markets in the U.S., Seattle’s support of small business probably shouldn’t be a surprise. There are 66,393 small business entrepreneurs here, making up 1.75% of the population. They are largely in the professional, scientific and technical services.

The city is a springboard to growth. It’s home to many small businesses that grew to become behemoths. For example, three friends started a small coffee roaster across the street from Pike Place Market in 1971 and named it after a character in Moby Dick. The business would eventually become the global cafe chain Starbucks!

8. Salt Lake City

Did you know Salt Lake City consumes more JELL-O per capita than anywhere else on earth?  Still its record supporting small business may be more important here. And 20,320 small business owners call the city home, accounting for 1.71% of the population. They are concentrated in the professional, scientific and technical services.

Robert Brady, Founder of Righteous Marketing says the city’s success in nurturing smaller companies alongside tech giants shouldn’t come as a shock. “While many people hear about the big national success stories like Pluralsight, there are numerous small businesses succeeding here.”

9. Boston

The home of the Boston Red Sox also hosts some serious small business entrepreneurship. There are 81,517 small business owners in the metro area, about 1.70% of the population. You will find many working in the professional, scientific and technical services.

The city is not just a great place for small businesses, however. As one of America’s oldest cities, it is also packed with history. For example, the first lighthouse in America stands in Boston Bay and the city is also home to the oldest public park in the U.S., Boston Commons.

10. Oklahoma City

Oklahoma’s state capital is full of entrepreneurial activity with 22,969 small business entrepreneurs in the metro area making up 1.67% of the population and largely in the professional, scientific and technical services.

A great place for small business, the city also has some fascinating business history. For example, Sylvan Goldman, founder of the city’s iconic Piggly Wiggly supermarket chain actually developed the first shopping cart (which he called a folding basket carrier) in 1937 to make it easier for his customers to carry groceries.

Methodology for Best 10 Cities for Small Businesses

With 30 million small businesses in the U.S., you can find small businesses virtually everywhere in this great country.  But if you’re looking for an area welcoming to small businesses, these top 10 cities should be on your list to consider.

Our Best Cities for Small Businesses, 2019 rankings are based primarily on our proprietary analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs (ASE) and Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 50,000 or More.

Cities were ranked on the percentage of entrepreneurs in each category rather than the number of entrepreneurs. However, other data we reviewed based on information available to us included:

  • Population
  • Industry clusters
  • Lifestyle
  • Workforce
  • Costs
  • Infrastructure
  • Other startups nearby

Check out our infographic below for a shareable summary of the best cities for small businesses.

Best Cities for Small Businesses

This article, “Best Cities for Small Businesses” was first published on Small Business Trends