Jewelry Shines on Episode of Focus on Suppliers
by February 29, 2016 12:00 am 117 views
The episode of “Focus on Suppliers” that first aired Feb. 27 features the jewelry category.
Host Neile Jones sat down with Ben Lacey, vice president of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. accounts for New York-based Armitron, and Brent Redmond, Walmart category manager for Connecticut-based SalesOne International LLC, to talk about jewelry and watches and how they fit in with the assortments at Walmart and Sam’s Club Inc.
Lacey, who is based in Bentonville, started off the conversation by noting that, as far as Walmart is concerned, watches are considered part of the apparel category. This is an important detail, as there is a definite “synergy” between the way clothing, watches and jewelry marketing come together at Walmart, he said.
Lacey also noted that the latest trend in fashion is “athleisure.” Consumers aren’t segmenting their wardrobes as they used to. Clothing that was developed for exercise, such as yoga pants, have become everyday staples. To compliment this trend, Armitron has developed a line of colorful sports watches that coordinate with active-wear looks.
Redmond, also based in Bentonville, shared his experiences as one who has worked on both sides of the retail/supplier divide. He began his career working for Walmart and Sam’s Club, eventually taking a role in product development, focusing on watches. Redmond eventually moved over to the supplier side and had a lot to say about that experience, including the importance of suppliers maintaining a Bentonville presence.
The episode will also cover sustainability, featuring guests from CaseStack in Fayetteville and Waste Management.
The Heart of Business segment will feature guests from Unilever and the Boys and Girls Club of Benton County. They will discuss the Boys and Girls Club’s Youth of the Year celebration, an upcoming event, sponsored by Unilever, that will feature Walmart U.S. CEO, Greg Foran.
“Focus on Suppliers,” produced by Bentonville-based supplier education company 8th & Walton, airs at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays and 5:30 a.m. Sundays on NBC affiliate KNWA-TV. The shows are always available on YouTube, Vimeo and the audio is available as a podcast on iTunes.