Does a local presence in Bentonville make a difference?
The company Sam Walton built has become the World’s NUMBER ONE Retailer. It offers SUPPLIERS great opportunities and equally great challenges. WM & SAMS Club suppliers are not required to have a local office in Bentonville. However, we can assure you that there is a very tangible relationship to those who are located here and their continued business success. There is something intangible to a buyer’s perception of knowing there is someone here accountable and immediately touchable that provides a level of comfort in their day to day business activities with suppliers. Those that live the business, know the expectations and the culture in a way that makes them much easier to work with than those that may or may not be able to be trained in the Wal*Mart Way. If you were the buyer and held personally accountable for ALL your suppliers success and failures, wouldn’t you want them fully responsive to your every need and in your very own backyard.
