How We Pass Walmart Shelf Testing: A Guide for Brush Suppliers

For over 12 years, this rigorous process has shaped our entire culture of excellence. Here’s what we’ve learned.

For over a decade, our company has stood alongside Walmart as a dedicated and trusted brush supplier, providing products that meet the exceptionally high standards required by one of the world’s most respected retailers. This partnership has been built on a shared commitment to quality, safety, and reliability—a commitment reinforced every time one of our products undergoes Walmart’s meticulous shelf-testing process.

Each month, like clockwork, we receive detailed test reports and invoices from UL Verification Services Inc., the independent third-party laboratory commissioned by Walmart. These tests are conducted randomly on products already placed on shelves, covering critical aspects such as chemical safety, physical durability, functional performance, and labeling accuracy. In 2024 alone, we underwent 19 separate shelf tests. With our annual investment in these tests averaging between RMB 150,000 and 200,000, this process represents not just a compliance measure, but a core part of our quality assurance system.

Throughout our 12-year collaboration, we have taken pride in our unblemished record in chemical and safety-related tests. This success stems from our rigorous raw material selection process, our insistence on working only with certified suppliers, and our continuous internal production audits. Each brush is manufactured under tightly controlled conditions, with inline inspections and sampling at every critical stage—from molding and trimming to packaging. Here is a newly released report this month. And the sample was randomly picked from the Store 0017-Neosho,MO.

However, one memorable incident proved that even the most robust systems can be strengthened further. Several years ago, we received a customer notification from Walmart stating that the actual number of brushes in one batch did not match the quantity printed on the packaging. This was our first and only shelf-test failure in over 1,400 tests.

The moment we learned of the issue, our quality team sprang into action. We conducted a full traceability analysis, reviewing batch records, production logs, and inspection reports. It was eventually uncovered that the discrepancy occurred during the replenishment process after initial inspection—a handful of units had been accidentally mixed into the wrong lot. Although the error was isolated, we treated it with utmost seriousness.

In response, we implemented a new closed-loop management procedure for all inspected products. Now, when batches are opened for sampling, they are moved to a designated quarantine area. Only after a secondary count and verification by a dedicated quality controller are they cleared for final packaging. We also introduced barcode scanning at the replenishment stage, ensuring full alignment between physical stock and labeled quantities.

This experience, though challenging, became a turning point in our operational philosophy. It reinforced that quality isn’t just about avoiding chemical defects or functional shortcomings—it’s about precision in every detail, including something as seemingly simple as count accuracy.

Our collaboration with Walmart has done more than just open doors to a global marketplace; it has instilled in us a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. By embracing their rigorous testing protocols and feedback mechanisms, we have not only elevated our own production standards but have also become a more reliable partner for clients across industries and regions.

We are grateful for the trust Walmart has placed in us over the past 12 years, and we look forward to continuing to raise the bar—for ourselves, our partners, and the industry.