The Sam M. Walton College of Business Sales Competition is an innovative twist on national sales competitions that simulates the relationship between a retailer, primarily Walmart Inc., and its suppliers. Walton College is in a unique position to host this competition given the preponderance of sales and merchandising positions available to its students at both Bentonville headquartered-Walmart, as well as the many supplier offices in Northwest Arkansas who recruit Walton students for both local and national positions.
The competition this semester took place on Nov. 11. The case sponsor, Nestlé Purina — specifically Don Morgan, Ben Christensen, Giovanna Rigo, Anne Mcnamee, Adam Cogburn and Alicia Graham — assisted with providing the case challenge for the students, the data set and final judges. The case challenged the students to gain alignment and/or commitment from the buyer to a business plan that would win in the Puppy Segment.
A total of 30 competitors from both Robert McEver and Craig Geiger’s classes participated in the competition, and six of the students — Madison Martin, Brady McGinely, Faith Norton, Karsyn Robinson, Helen Woodham and Jacob Young — advanced to the final round. Winners were:
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- 1st Place Winner – Helen Woodham
- 2nd Place Winner – Jacob Young
- 3rd Place Winner – Karsyn Robinson
The companies that participated were:
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- Nestlé Purina
- Sanofi
- Insight Global
- Saatchi & Saatchi
- General Mills
- The J.M. Smucker Company
- Nielsen
- Walmart
- Walton
- Kimberly-Clark
- Kellogg’s
The Retail Advisory Board members also played a large role in the competition by supplying judging support and continuing to help guide competition strategy. Walton Student Success plans to host the spring sales competition on April 21.
