Every day we talk with people who are looking for a way to segue into the Wal-Mart supplier job market. If you are considering a career change or working to move up in a consumer goods company in the Wal-Mart supplier community, you should know about 8th & Walton.

Last week I talked with a candidate relocating to Northwest Arkansas who had just completed 8th & Walton’s Introduction to Retail Link class the night before. She was excited to see the power and possibilities behind Retail Link. This one introductory class confirmed for her that she was on the right track in pursuing her goal to become a Retail Link analyst.

An independent supplier development company, 8th & Walton has tapped into the knowledge of industry experts to help suppliers build their business with the world’s largest retailer. The company (named for Wal-Mart's Bentonville corporate address) has been so well received, it very quickly expanded its course offerings and is hosting packed events in Dallas, Chicago, Boston, Cincinnati and Los Angeles. Courses include

• Retail Math & Business Analytics
• Introduction to Retail Link
• Introduction to Space Planning
• Strategic Category Planning
• Selling to Wal-Mart
• Sustainable Packaging Scorecard

For a complete list of courses, schedules and costs, visit http://www.8thandwalton.com/index.php.

by John Miller

Best Buy, the electronics giant based in Minneapolis, will be expanding its operations into 11 new countries in the coming months. The electronics retailer has plans to push into new markets in Mexico, Europe and Turkey. Thus, it will be doing so before another Minneapolis-based retailer: Target. 
 
Best Buy currently has one-fifth of the U.S. electronics market and will have opportunity for more if Circuit City can't get its fortunes turned around. The global expansion will provide an opportunity for Best Buy to become a major player overseas as well.  As home to three major retailers (Target, Supervalu and Best Buy), Minneapolis's position as a major force in the consumer product industry will grow as Best Buy expands.

You can read about Best Buy's global appetite and the challenges ahead at Twincities.com.

With skilled talent already scarce, Best Buy's expansion, if successful, could prompt suppliers to bid up the talent in Minneapolis. Account and category management experience will be at a premium, as will the the need for analysts.