Lowe’s Into the Blue, part two

Lowe’s is once again calling on entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes worldwide to apply for “Into the Blue: Lowe’s Product Pitch Event.”

[Related article: Tractor Supply seeking new vendors and products.]

The home improvement retailer described the event as the largest and most impactful live product sourcing event. Applications are now open through September 6, and interested businesses with ready-for-market products can apply at Lowes.com/Suppliers. 

Last year, Lowe’s launched its Into the Blue product pitch event that provided fledgling entrepreneurs and product inventors a path that could lead to getting their products on the shelves of Lowe’s or online with the retailer.

Lowe’s wrote that: “The annual, one-day event that recently attracted 335 people from 209 companies across nine countries didn’t just happen out of the blue. It’s the brainchild of Lowe’s executive vice president of merchandising, Bill Boltz. He noticed a substantial number of inquiries coming via LinkedIn, email and mail. There seemed to be plenty of novel ideas – but no formal process to vet them.

“He shared the conundrum with Sarah Dodd, senior vice president of merchandising. ‘Sarah and her team took the vision, put it on steroids and Into the Blue was born,’ said Boltz.”

Into the Blue is one of Dodd’s favorite workdays of the year. See video HERE.

“We’re trying to find unique products and vendors, and sometimes it’s hard for these vendors to know where to go, who to turn to, what email address to use, what LinkedIn account to contact,” she said.

Boltz likes seeing what’s become of his vision – and how it’s benefiting both small businesses and Lowe’s customers.

“First of all, the event allows us to find new products, and we know ‘new’ sells,” he said. “Number two, it helps us ensure that we’re representing products that originated in, and can benefit, the communities we serve.”

The EVP of merchandising said that, “we might find a product that’s specific to a certain market or specific area of the country. We’re finding minority-owned and women-owned suppliers that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise.”

Boltz said, “the hope is that we find some golden nuggets among these 200-plus potential suppliers. So far, we’ve been impressed.”