Students, faculty and staff are in the final push of preparations as the Sam M. Walton College of Business gears up to host its bi-annual sales competition from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 16-18 in Willard J. Walker Hall. 

For three days, students will pitch product placement to real buyers from corporations such as Walmart, HART and PepsiCo. Beginner sales class students participate in teams, while those in the advanced sales class are solo participants.

IT’S A TEAM EFFORT

“Pitching isn't just about selling products. In class, we’re pulling together a compelling story to persuade buyers,” shared Lane Religa, a senior marketing student and multimedia production assistant for the Walton College, who’s presenting in this year’s competition. 

When asked about the preparation process, he adds, “All semester, we’ve been dissecting slide decks and case studies to find key demographics and financial insights to support our product’s placement. In our practice sessions, all the students give and receive feedback to enhance our approach and ensure we leave a lasting impression."

John Cossey, a senior business administration and management student and one of last year’s finalists, said, “Last semester, my team was tasked with creating an omnichannel marketing plan for Sanofi, a French pharmaceutical brand. The goal was to grow the topical pain category at Walmart. The entire competition was simulated like a real business meeting, which was very valuable. The finals were especially rewarding, as we got to pitch to the actual Walmart category buyer and receive feedback from him.”

REAL-LIFE NETWORKING

The event isn’t just for show — multiple job offers have been extended throughout the event, with two students accepting last year. 

John Ballentine, the sales program director for Walton College, was asked how staff and faculty view the sales competition: “I’m looking forward to seeing our professional sales students compete. Every year, we look forward to seeing the students' joy and confidence after practicing in class. They see they can really do this. The professors will admit this is the most fun event of the year.”

No matter who walks away with first place this year, it’s clear that Walton College’s sales competition is helping students kickstart their careers. 

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business is AACSB-accredited and ranks among the top business schools in the nation. Walton College is the largest college at the University of Arkansas, serving nearly 9,000 undergraduate, master's and doctoral students. Walton College is recognized among U.S. News & World Report's 2023 "Best Business Schools," and its undergraduate supply chain management program was ranked No. 1 in North America by Gartner. The college's Master of Business Administration program was also ranked No. 11 for best return on investment by The Wall Street Journal. The Princeton Review ranked the college's graduate entrepreneurship program as one of the top in the country for the first time in the 2022-23 year. And in partnership with the Global Campus, the U of A's online business degree program ranked No. 12 nationally among 214 institutions by U.S. News in 2023.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.