Lee Peterson

Walmart Follows TV in Search for Star Attractions

January 20, 2012

FROM RETAILWIRE:
The various talent search shows on television have nothing on Walmart. The world's largest retailer has launched its very own search for talent, the kind that creates innovative new products, through a contest called "Get on the shelf." What is your reaction to Walmart's "Get on the shelf" contest? Is this a good way to discover innovative new products?      [more...]

Being in the business of creating things, I look at this as an affront to firms that create products for a living. Open sourcing works in some areas maybe, but let's face it, it's also a pretty clever way to get things for nothing.

I'm sure you're familiar with the pain the Gap went through when they tried to outsource the re-do of their logo, right? They were ascended upon by hundreds of bloggers and e-news companies and skewered for trying to get work for free. Eventually, they gave up that tack. Hopefully, the same thing happens here.