Our story began in 1970, when Stan Kessler, Nat Friedler, and a part-time secretary opened a manufacturers’ representative agency serving Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and western Tennessee. The goal from day one was to become the finest rep agency in the market, and the philosophy was simple: work hard, consistently, honestly, and knowledgeably, and back it up with the responsiveness and follow-up service our manufacturers and customers deserve.

In 1998, we made the decision that has defined us ever since: Sales Marketing Services would concentrate exclusively on servicing Walmart and Sam’s Club.

Hurricane Katrina brought the next big change. In 2005, rather than continue almost weekly travel from New Orleans, we relocated personnel and opened a new office in Bentonville, Arkansas — worldwide headquarters for Walmart and Sam’s Club. What began as a necessity turned into a home, and we’ve been an integral part of the Northwest Arkansas community, professionally and personally, ever since.

Through decades of daily interaction with Walmart and Sam’s Club, we’ve come to know their procedures, their personnel, their time frames and schedules — and how to move within them. We succeeded by giving the companies we represent fast, reliable access to this market in an organized, professional manner, with the information, direction, and consistent communication it takes to capture market share. That tenure has earned us professional relationships throughout the market and a known record of reliability.

In 2015, Robert Brown and Stan Kessler purchased a 3,500-square-foot building — 2,500 square feet of office and storage, plus a dedicated 1,000-square-foot showroom and modular space — so we can host meetings, product reviews, and modular schematics right here, one mile from the Walmart and Sam’s Club Home Office and half a mile from the Walmart layout center.

More than fifty years in, the approach hasn’t changed. Our knowledge of Walmart and Sam’s Club, coupled with our integrity and responsiveness, will keep paying dividends for the retailers and for the companies we represent.