For over 20 years, The Fresh Dolls has maintained a solid relationship with Walmart, leveraging this partnership to bring diverse, multicultural dolls and toys to Walmart shelves nationwide. This long-standing collaboration recently expanded, including a line of baby items and the introduction of a new coloring book for kids, and Dr. Lisa Williams new she needed short-term financing to be able to deliver on time.

“Bridge went above and beyond to make sure our relationship with Walmart remained pristine with listening, insights, and most importantly, action. The platform is actually a ‘bridge’ for us, and we were happy to be working with them!"

“Walmart has always been there to support us,” Williams shares. "They’ve walked the walk, especially when it comes to helping small, minority-owned companies. They understand the challenges we face and are committed to creating pathways for us to succeed." Williams, who founded World of EPI in 2003, highlighted Walmart’s role in supporting companies beyond traditional means, including introducing Bridge to facilitate access to short term funding.

Bridge connected World of EPI with Star Funding, a Purchase Order financing lender on the Bridge network whose responsiveness and commitment have been key in meeting their short-term cash flow needs. “Bridge knew Star would be able to scale with us,” Williams says, noting that the partnership with Star underscores the importance of strategic financial connections that can grow alongside the business.

Reflecting on the impact of working with Bridge, Williams commends their collaborative spirit. "We got the right people on the bus".

Williams emphasized that having a financing partner that understands and supports Walmart's infrastructure and timelines has been instrumental in keeping their operations smooth and their relationships strong.