SupplierWiki’s Newsletter Refresh!

Hello! 🎉

Good morning, afternoon, evening, or whenever you find this gem in your inbox! 🌟

The term Vendorville was first attributed to a little town called Bentonville. Nestled in the Ozark hills, it is the unassuming home of the retail titan known as Wal-Mart.

This 1998 article helps to contextualize an archaic but foundational version of Northwest Arkansas. Presently, NWA still holds on to its quaint charm while experiencing massive growth from Walmart and the vendors in its orbit.

And where retailers are, suppliers will follow. For those who don't live in hot spots like Bentonville, Minneapolis (Target), or Cincinnati (Kroger), we're extending the digital city limits of Vendorville to your inbox.

Just like the supplier world, you’ll find SupplierWiki is making some big changes in 2024, including this newsletter.

🚀 What’s Fresh? 🚀

🌐 Website Updates:

Have you visited our revamped SupplierWiki website? It's a glow-up from head to toe! We’ve updated the top navigation, created pillar pages of curated content, and are prioritizing the supplier experience so you’ll get the most out of our education content.

🎤 More Mic Drops Coming:

Brace yourselves! We've got more updates, features, and surprises up our sleeves. Think of it as a sneak peek into the future of CPG supplier camaraderie.

Spoiler alert: It involves more laughs, more knowledge, and maybe a few unicorn sightings. 🦄

🏎️ Buckle up:
For the ins and outs of the Consumer Packaged Goods universe, consider SupplierWiki as your boots-on-the-ground intel for all things vendor-related. Grab your coffee, kick back, and let's dive into the (sometimes!) delightful chaos of supply chain shenanigans!

P.S. It’s no fun without friends. Forward this email to your fellow suppliers and supply chain colleagues. 🤗

Vendorville Travel Guide 🗺️

If Vendorville had a welcome committee, we’d definitely roll out the red carpet. The second best thing is to point you to some of our best resources to get you started.

BuyerConnect 🖇️

Scouring LinkedIn for a buyer is not the move. BuyerConnect is a community-curated list of Walmart and Target buyers that has the information needed to contact your department’s buyer.

See an outdated merchant role? Update information or add a new merchant with a quick form submission.

Retail Calendar 📆

Lifehouse said it best, “What day is it? And in what month?”

If Walmart Weeks confuses you just as much as the rest of us, download this 2025 FYE Walmart Calendar. This PDF guide is printable and is an easy way to never be fuzzy on your dates.

Just need a quick peek? There's an online version of Walmart, Target, and Kroger's retail calendar.

Retailer News 📰

January 2, 2024
Big box stores invest in ‘stickier’ stores as inventories normalize
"Meanwhile, as inventory becomes less sticky, retailers are investing heavily in making their stores more sticky for customers who are generally more cautious and selective."

January 2, 2024

Pinterest Business Predicts
"Explore the breakout trends for 2024 and shop them on Pinterest—before anyone else."

August 16, 2022
Four supply chain experts on the challenges of manufacturing in the US—and the tactics to turn to instead
"Moving entire supply chains to the US isn’t easy—or even plausible—for a lot of retail brands"

Rick’s Tips

Ok, but who is “Rick,” and how does this anthropomorphic arrow have anything to do with being a supplier? 🤔

Well… there’s a TON of One-Click Rick Lore to unpack, but for now, all you need to know is he’s SupplyPike’s helpful mascot, full of tips and tricks for all things around revenue loss.

“With Walmart’s FYE comes a flurry of Post Audits that may sour your new year. Audits typically happen 3 times a year with an average cost of $75,000 for most suppliers.

If you receive an audit, dispute these claims immediately. Time is of the essence when it comes to recovering money from these hefty claims.”

Let’s Circle Back 🌀

Same, Marshawn Lynch, Same. It’s also why we've created many resources on Supplierwiki.

Speaking of fines, check out this totally science-based quiz to find out what type of deduction you are.

❤️ Sincerely, Your Friends in Vendorville

SupplierWiki