Key Dates for the Upcoming Fiscal Year

Happy Fiscal New Year, Vendorville 🍸

Hello Vendorvillians,

As we put away the streamers and settle into 2025, it's time to mark another milestone: the start of a new fiscal year. Suppliers may not pop open champagne bottles with this one, but it is equally important—especially for those who manage multiple retailer relationships.

Retailers often set their fiscal calendars to capture the full impact of holiday sales, which means February 1st marks a critical turning point for many. If you’re planning ahead for the year, here’s a snapshot of what’s happening with some of the major retailers:

Walmart: FYE 2026 begins February 1, but keep an eye on those Walmart weeks—they don’t always align with the calendar.
Home Depot, Target, and Kroger: Their FYE 2025 wraps up on the Saturday closest to January 31.
CVS and Amazon: FYE 2025 already started on January 1.

Keeping track of fiscal year weeks can be tricky. Check out this article, How to Use the Walmart Fiscal Calendar, for a quick rundown!

New fiscal year, new stretch goals—literally.

With a new fiscal year comes the opportunity to set fresh stretch goals—but just like a good warm-up, planning is key to success. Before diving into the year, make sure you’ve got the basics covered to stay ahead of the game.

1) Get your calendar in order

Staying on top of key retail timelines is the first step to success. Download (or print) your Walmart FYE 2026 Calendar, which includes U.S. and International Holidays, Walmart Weeks, and the full 4-5-4 Calendar Breakdown. 🗓️

2) Stay in control of your revenue

Don’t let deductions hinder your goals! Make this the year you decode those deduction codes and learn how to stay ahead of disputes. Proactive planning can help protect your bottom line.💰

3) Know your support network

Whether you’re connecting with Walmart buyers via BuyerConnect or navigating through Walmart’s supplier support group, having a go-to list of contacts will save time and frustration. Begin building that network now—it’ll pay off when challenges arise. 🫶

In Other Retailer News 🗞️

Deloitte

2025 Consumer Products Industry Outlook

“Spending while saving: Pricing headwinds lead companies to look elsewhere for profitable growth.”

Retail Brew

What to Expect in Retail in the Age of AI Shopping Assistants

“Shopping in the future will be frictionless, personalized, and assistive in any way that is most useful, including agentic solutions.”

Supply Chain Dive

How auto suppliers can prepare for tariffs against Canada and Mexico

“Companies must analyze their supply chains and develop company-specific plans as expenses and impacts could vary significantly, experts say.”

Rick’s Tips💡

“Ship Point Management, also known as ASPEN, is a newer feature in Supplier One. The new feature allows suppliers to manage lead times, and shipping calendars. Suppliers can view and edit ship points, track 9-digit agreements, review submitted changes or exceptions, and create new ship points or override event.”

Let’s Circle Back 🔄

It’s that time of year again—our annual Bingo challenge is back! This year's theme? Corporate Catchphrases.😎

How does it work? You’ve probably noticed certain phrases popping up again and again during business calls, presentations, or meetings. We’ve gathered some of the most common (and painfully relatable) ones and turned them into a Bingo card challenge.

The goal? Cross off every square before the fiscal calendar ends. Bonus points if you can get your colleagues involved and compare cards. Think you can hear "Let's circle back" or "Low-hanging fruit" enough times to win?

Until next time,

Vendorville ♥️