For the people who invent gadgets the big problem is not usually having enough ideas, it’s not being able to get your latest gadget onto store shelves. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is going to help out.
The company has announced a contest it calls ‘Get on the Shelf,’ which Walmart says is “similar to the popular American Idol television show, contestants will create videos of their latest inventions and the public will vote online for the winners.”
Three winning products will be sold on Walmart’s website and the big winner will be featured on the site’s homepage and “also get valuable shelf space in select Walmart stores across the country.”
The catch, of course, is making enough of the winning gadget, but a deal with Walmart should get the inventor into the bank president’s office to talk about a loan.