Write Winky & Dutch CEO Alice Globus Pitched Her Button Business & Won At Walmart’s Open Call 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
Port Byron, New York August 17, 2018 - In June, Winky&Dutch CEO Alice Globus visited Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas by invitation, to pitch her products during the retail conglomerate's 5th Annual Open Call. The event is part of Walmart's commitment to purchase an additional $250 billion in products made, sourced or grown in the United States by 2023, giving some American entrepreneurs shelf space at their stores each year. This year small business, Winky & Dutch was one of them.
?Winky & Dutch CEO Alice Globus presented their sew-on buttons, a "craft good item" intended for Walmart's sewing section. Alice compared the event to "speed dating," as businesses were assigned 30-minute slots to meet with different buyers. Then, she said, there was round two in which the businesses set up tables and buyers walked the floor to see what they liked. She went on to say it was an amazingly positive experience.
Ultimately, Winky & Dutch was selected on the spot, and Alice says it was largely due to Winky & Dutch’s new patent-pending technology. For several years Winky&Dutch had been investing in the technology to make their buttons laundry safe & practical while keeping them pretty and eye catching. "As exciting as buttons can get, for the fashion industry, having the ability to easily launder clothing is critical," Alice said. “Many hand crafted buttons are too precious, and — you have to physically remove them before laundering. Winky & Dutch buttons can be laundered, making them even more special. Winky&Dutch filed for a patent in June.
Walmart was interested in more than just buttons. "We shared examples of how the buttons could be used — on jackets and pillows and different items, and one of the buyers saw what our items looked like and asked if we had any charms (for the craft jewelry aisle)," Alice said. Currently, Alice said Winky&Dutch is finalizing the paperwork to begin selling packs of buttons and charms at Walmart & Walmart.com for Spring of 2019. Alice is very excited about the opportunity Walmart represents and what it means for the next chapter of Winky & Dutch.
Winky & Dutch has been creating artful, American made accessories for 30+ years.?Founded in 1987 by Ron Globus and his identical twin brothers, the somewhat eccentric trio had shared passion for photography, engineering, fashion & pop culture. Their passion revolutionized photography with their invention of the first panoramic camera and the lenticular lens, which they lovingly called “Winky.” The Globus Brother’s search for creative ways to share photographic art led to the Winky & Dutch legacy. Today, Winky & Dutch is a proudly women-owned family business led by Ronald Globus’ daughter, Alice Globus. | 
