8th & Walton

On this episode of 3-Minute Insights, we were joined by Heather Reed, Director of Education, Canada, and Accounting Insights at 8th & Walton, to discuss the free resources available on 8th & Walton’s website. Lainie: On the 8th & Walton website, there’s a resources section. Can you tell us about it and why it’s so valuable to suppliers? Heather: Absolutely. The resources section has been developed by our experts, who have over 200 years of combined experience working with Walmart. What we found is that certain topics are in high demand:  “What is the Walmart calendar?” or “What’s the glossary of terms?” It’s a way for suppliers to go in and download a free PDF or listen to a podcast that we may have on a specific topic. When you go to our website, look for the “Resources” tab across the top of the page. Once you click on that, you’ll see all ten of the various resources we’ve created. Lainie: Could you describe some of the key resources that someone might find there? Heather: Definitely! There’s the podcast, which we’re recording right now, as well as blogs on very informative and timely topics. These include current trends and updates about Walmart and what’s happening in the retail world in general. There’s also a glossary of terms, as I mentioned before, and an accounting reference sheet to help with accounting questions. All of this can be especially helpful for those who want to build knowledge in areas where they may have less experience. Lainie: One question that just came up for me — you’re based in Canada. Do these resources apply to both Canadian and U.S.-based suppliers? Heather: For sure, that’s an awesome question. We actually have the Walmart calendar for both Canada and the U.S., so yes, they definitely apply. The terms, accounting references, and department numbers all relate to both countries as well. Lainie: One final question — would it be a good idea for suppliers listening or watching this podcast to make a point of kicking off 2026 by reviewing these resources with their teams, or even including the resource page as part of onboarding for new hires? Heather: Absolutely, Lainie. I can’t encourage it enough. This is the best time of year to go through the materials. You might have some downtime during the holidays to do some personal development in areas you want to strengthen or brush up on. And for new team members, these resources are vital to their success. 3-Minute Insights is produced by 8th & Walton at The Ledger in Bentonville Square. The Ledger offers six fully bikeable stories of private offices, individual coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues. The Ledger’s stunning views and state-of-the-art amenities make it the perfect location for doing business, hosting events, and celebrating life’s milestones, including weddings! The post Unlock free resources on 8thandWalton.com — 3-Minute Insights appeared first on 8th & Walton.

For many Walmart suppliers, seasonality is something to manage carefully — especially in categories where demand rises and falls predictably throughout the year. One dry grocery supplier partnered with 8th & Walton through PathFinders Silver to rethink how seasonality could become a growth opportunity rather than a constraint. Working with Terry Clear, Director of Replenishment and Sales Insights at 8th & Walton, the supplier shifted from a static, once-a-year mod mindset to a more dynamic, seasonal strategy that helped drive incremental sales and bring new customers into the category. The Challenge: Strong Seasonality, Limited Flexibility The supplier manages 36 items across roughly 93,700 points of distribution in a dry grocery category with pronounced fall and winter seasonality. Historically, the sales curve closely mirrored temperature trends — demand increased as temperatures dropped and declined during warmer months. While this pattern was well understood, it created a consistent sales trough in spring and summer, limiting year-round growth and leaving shelf space underutilized during part of the year. The challenge wasn’t just forecasting demand — it was finding a way to adapt the assortment without disrupting Walmart’s broader category strategy or introducing execution risk. The Silver-Level Approach: Proactive Planning and Opportunity Identification At the PathFinders Silver level, Terry’s role went beyond addressing known issues. Together with the supplier, he proactively evaluated the category’s sales profile and identified an opportunity to introduce additive items designed specifically for the seasonal trough. Importantly, Walmart was only open to this approach because the supplier had already demonstrated strong supply chain performance. Their ability to execute reliably on existing business gave Walmart confidence to support a more dynamic, seasonal assortment strategy. As Terry notes, Walmart is unlikely to take this kind of risk with suppliers who are still struggling to execute consistently. Strong fundamentals created the opportunity for innovation. The strategy involved: Developing items that performed well during warmer months Working with Walmart to introduce these items in spring and summer Planning for those same items to be pulled out during fall and winter, when core items naturally regained momentum This approach created a seasonally rotating assortment, rather than relying on a single annual mod reset. Execution: Moving Beyond an Annual Mod Mindset As part of the strategy, a portion of the supplier’s assortment became seasonally available, with items rotating in and out on a quarterly cadence. This shift delivered several benefits: Shelf space stayed fresh and relevant year-round The assortment evolved with customer needs, rather than remaining static Inventory planning aligned more closely with actual demand patterns To support the transition, the supplier also increased marketing efforts to build customer awareness around the new seasonal items, ensuring shoppers understood the expanded offering during non-peak periods. Want to turn seasonal shifts into Walmart growth? If your business hits a spring or summer slowdown, PathFinders Silver can help you plan smarter, evolve your assortment, and drive incremental sales. Fill out the form below to start a free conversation with our team. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "668902", formId: "afe3b69e-8934-4b33-a7c2-274709daae92" }); The Impact: Incremental Growth and Category Expansion The results were meaningful: Sales increased for the supplier New customers were introduced to the category The category benefitted from incremental demand, rather than simple item replacement By aligning assortment strategy with seasonality — instead of fighting it — the supplier was able to smooth performance across the year and create growth where there had previously been decline. Why This Matters for Walmart Suppliers This engagement reflects the core value of PathFinders Silver: Proactive identification of opportunities suppliers may not see on their own Strategic planning that connects data, seasonality, and execution Guidance that helps suppliers work more effectively with Walmart to evolve assortments over time Rather than reacting to seasonal swings, this supplier now has a repeatable approach for using them to their advantage. Looking Ahead By moving beyond a once-a-year mod reset and embracing a more dynamic assortment strategy, the supplier strengthened both their performance and their partnership with Walmart. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t always come from adding more items — sometimes it comes from adding the right items at the right time. If your team is navigating seasonal demand shifts, assortment changes, or inventory planning challenges, PathFinders Silver can help uncover opportunities that lead to smarter, more sustainable growth. Ready to Rethink Your Walmart Strategy? PathFinders Silver helps suppliers solve real problems and uncover new growth opportunities. Fill out the form below to start a free conversation with our team. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "668902", formId: "afe3b69e-8934-4b33-a7c2-274709daae92" }); The post PathFinders Silver Client Spotlight: Turning Seasonality Into Growth appeared first on 8th & Walton.

At a time when the retail and CPG landscape is evolving faster than ever, 8th & Walton is proud to share a milestone that reflects not just what we do, but who we are. This fall, our team officially earned B Corp recertification, reaffirming our commitment to operating—and helping suppliers operate—with purpose at the center. Originally certified in 2022, 8th & Walton continues to meet the rigorous standards set by B Lab, the nonprofit behind the global B Corporation movement. These standards evaluate the social and environmental impact of a company’s operations, accountability, and transparency. Only organizations that demonstrate measurable, ongoing commitment to these values qualify. For us, this recertification isn’t simply a credential. It’s a reminder of why we exist: to help suppliers succeed in ways that strengthen people, communities, and the planet. Purpose in Action: Elevating Supplier Impact Our work with Walmart suppliers goes far beyond replenishment strategy, item setup, or supply chain improvements. Through our PathFinders program, we help organizations build businesses that are not only operationally strong but intentionally responsible. This purpose-driven approach is also what inspired the launch of the Consumer Impact Summit, which debuted in September 2025. The annual event brings together CPG leaders who are redefining what it means to lead in today’s marketplace. From sustainability to social responsibility to the future of consumer expectations, the Summit provides a space for collaboration and shared vision. These conversations—and the actions that follow—are part of our commitment to helping suppliers not just react to industry change, but shape it. A Framework for Growth, Not a Badge “B Corp certification is a framework that guides how we operate, serve, and grow. This recertification reflects our team’s sustained commitment to doing meaningful work for suppliers and communities alike,” says Jeff Clapper, CEO of 8th & Walton. “That framework influences every part of our work, from how we support clients to how we show up in our community.” Looking Ahead: Purpose-Driven Supplier Leadership As we move into our next phase of growth, 8th & Walton remains dedicated to helping the supplier community lead with purpose—aligning profitability with progress. For suppliers, that means equipping teams to: Build trust with Walmart Navigate complexity with clarity Grow sustainably and responsibly Make decisions grounded in both data and values The future of CPG leadership will be shaped by organizations that understand the power of purpose—and the 8th & Walton Team is committed to helping suppliers be among them. Ready to Build a Purpose-Driven Strategy? If you’re exploring sustainability, transparency, or retail impact — and want to align with Walmart’s expectations — let’s connect. Fill out the form below to talk with us about purpose-driven consulting. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "668902", formId: "afe3b69e-8934-4b33-a7c2-274709daae92" }); The post 8th & Walton Recertified as a B Corp appeared first on 8th & Walton.

Our guest is Terry Clear, director of Replenishment and Sales Insights at 8th & Walton, and we’re discussing Walmart’s increasing use of AI and what this means for suppliers. Lainie: Walmart is using agentic AI instead of off-the-shelf models. Why does that matter to suppliers? Terry: It allows Walmart to have more control and to be more precise. This will also allow for reduced timelines and will allow Walmart to be in more control of the data. Lainie: So by being able to customize that AI model, it’s going to be serving Walmart rather than just a broader retail community. Are you a Walmart supplier in need of guidance? Get in touch! hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "668902", formId: "c508e66a-f477-45fb-8e18-cb982be88a9e", region: "na1" }); Terry: Right. And for suppliers, Walmart is likely to set its own data requirements for suppliers to use with this Walmart agent AI instead of some off-the-shelf AI. So suppliers need to be ready to respond to these likely new data requests from Walmart. Lainie: Also, Walmart has stated that AI will change every job within the organization, but they plan to retrain rather than reduce their staff. Lainie: How should suppliers outside the organization prepare for that shift? Terry: I think the same statements would be true for suppliers, that every job at the supplier is going to be affected by AI, and this is the opportunity for the suppliers to level up their associates and be ready for the next generation. 3-Minute Insights is produced by 8th & Walton at The Ledger in Bentonville Square. The Ledger offers six fully bikeable stories of private offices, individual coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues. The Ledger’s stunning views and state-of-the-art amenities make it the perfect location for doing business, hosting events, and celebrating life’s milestones, including weddings!   The post Walmart’s AI pivot — 3-Minute Insights appeared first on 8th & Walton.

Choosing the right PathFinders tier can feel like a big decision — especially when you’re balancing Walmart expectations, internal priorities, and limited team capacity. PathFinders was designed to meet suppliers wherever they are, whether you need focused support on one challenge or a deeper, ongoing partnership across multiple parts of your business. But how do you know which level is right for you? At 8th & Walton, the core difference between Bronze, Silver, and Gold isn’t what we can help you with — it’s the number of sessions you receive each month, the number of topics we can simultaneously support, and the level of proactivity we can take. A Simple Framework: Sessions + Topics + Proactivity As you move from Bronze → Silver → Gold, three things scale: 1. The Number of Sessions Each Month Every session is dedicated time with your expert to dig into your business, solve problems, and make progress. More sessions = more opportunities to drive improvement. 2. The Number of Topics We Can Support at the Same Time Bronze: Focus on one or two key priorities Silver: Support across several topics Gold: Deep partnership across many workstreams 3. The Level of Proactivity Bronze: You bring us the priority topic, and we help you solve it. Silver: You bring us priorities, and we also identify and help address issues you may not have seen yet. Gold: We monitor your business every week, proactively identify risks and opportunities, and support multiple topics with ongoing strategic partnership. This framework helps suppliers choose the tier that matches their workload, complexity, and goals. Bronze: When You Want Focused, Problem-Solving Support Best for: Suppliers who need expert support on one or two important issues each month. What this tier feels like: You come to your expert with a specific need — a replenishment question, a forecasting issue, an eCommerce challenge — and your sessions are centered on solving it. This tier is focused, clear, and action-oriented. Example: A frozen food supplier struggling with in-stock issues used their PathFinders Bronze sessions to uncover a hidden root cause: multiple small purchase orders were generating daily, inefficient shipments and delayed deliveries. With guidance from their expert, they consolidated to a single weekly order review day, improving in-stocks, reducing waste, and stabilizing their supply rhythm. Bronze = “Help me solve this priority issue and move forward.” Silver: When You Need Support Across Several Topics Best for: Suppliers managing multiple Walmart priorities at once — eCommerce, supply chain, reporting, advertising, or planning. What this tier feels like: You get enough sessions to meaningfully address several workstreams. Silver clients often begin with one known priority and, through conversation with their expert, discover additional opportunities or issues they weren’t aware of. How Silver differs from Bronze: More sessions More topics supported More proactive monitoring (“We found this thing you may not have seen…”) Ability to work with more than one expert (e.g., supply chain + eCommerce) Example: A tea supplier used their Silver sessions to advance multiple initiatives, including eCommerce advertising, supply chain improvements, upcoming JBP planning, and refining their item-level insights. With more sessions available each month, their team could make progress in several areas simultaneously. Silver = “Help us move forward on several priorities — and flag what we may not be seeing.” Not sure if Bronze or Silver is right for your team? Let’s talk through your goals and match you with the right level of support.Fill out the short form below to start the conversation. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "668902", formId: "afe3b69e-8934-4b33-a7c2-274709daae92" }); Gold: When You Want a Deep, Ongoing Partnership Best for: Suppliers with complex Walmart businesses who want a highly engaged expert embedded in their rhythm each week. What this tier feels like: Gold clients have enough sessions to cover multiple workstreams in depth — forecasting, in-stock, modular planning, eCommerce marketing, advertising strategy, content optimization, seasonal planning, and cross-functional communication. Often, Gold sessions resemble having a Walmart expert integrated into the team. Gold differs from Silver in three ways: Additional sessions = deeper progress every month More topics supported at once Higher level of proactive insight and monitoring Gold = “Let’s build and refine the business together week after week.” Which PathFinders Tier Should You Choose? Bronze is right for you if… You have one or two high-priority challenges You want focused sessions centered on problem-solving You don’t need support across multiple workstreams Silver is right for you if… You have several Walmart priorities happening at once You want an expert who can help across multiple areas in the same month You value proactive insights alongside problem-solving Gold is right for you if… You want an expert team integrated into your business rhythm You manage complex or multi-category Walmart work You want weekly strategic and tactical support across many topics Final Thoughts Every supplier deserves access to Walmart expertise — and every PathFinders tier provides it. What changes is the number of sessions, the breadth of topics, and the degree of proactive support. If you’re unsure where to start, we’re happy to help you choose the tier that aligns with your goals and the level of partnership that makes sense for your business. Ready to choose your PathFinders tier? Whether you’re solving one issue or managing a complex operation, our team can help.Complete the form below to get started. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "668902", formId: "afe3b69e-8934-4b33-a7c2-274709daae92" }); The post Which PathFinders Service Tier Is Right for Me? appeared first on 8th & Walton.