New Dawsonville Wal-Mart Opens Wednesday; Features New Designs and Products to Enhance Shopping Experience

DAWSONVILLE, Ga., July 15, 2006 – July 19 not only marks the arrival of Georgia’s newest Wal-Mart Supercenter store in Dawsonville, but the ribbon-cutting at 8 a.m. Wednesday also opens the doors for customers to see a new look and feel to Wal-Mart, as well as new departments and merchandise for every day living needs. Doors open at 8 a.m.

Wider aisles and wood flooring complement new displays and signage throughout the store, as well as highlight the jewelry and apparel departments containing Wal-Mart’s popular new George© fashions.

The new store, located at 156 Power Center Drive, includes coordinated merchandise displays and an expanded home entertainment and electronics department that showcase a wide range of consumer electronics such as iPods, DVD players and high-definition televisions. The new 203,818-square foot Wal-Mart Supercenter offers a Tire & Lube Express, vision center, McDonald’s restaurant, Regal nail salon, portrait studio, one-hour photo lab, pharmacy and a Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless phone sales. In addition, the store also features 36 departments, including family apparel, health and beauty aids, household needs, electronics, toys, fabrics and crafts, lawn and garden supplies, jewelry and shoes. The store will also have an expanded selection of organic foods.

“It’s important to us to really become a part of the Dawsonville community, so as with all new Wal-Mart constructions, we closely considered customers’ feedback and worked with local officials,” said Dennis Dickson, store manager. “Our associates are proud of their store and we think customers will really enjoy shopping here.”

The store will be open 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week. It will include 18 full-service, six express and four self check-out lanes.

Employment

The store will employ approximately 350 associates. More than 1,200 people applied for jobs at the new store, according to Dickson. The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Georgia is $10.33 per hour.*

“Our associates look forward to serving our customers and being great partners with the Dawsonville community,” said Dickson. “Many associates joined because they know they have the opportunity for a long-lasting career at Wal-Mart.” Dickson began his career with Wal-Mart as a cart pusher in Lawrenceville in 1985.

Store Announces $28,500 in Charitable Giving

One of the primary activities of the grand opening celebration is to announce $28,500 in donations through Wal-Mart’s Good Works community involvement program. This total includes three $5,000 donations to the following organizations: Dawson County Board of Education, Dawson County Family Connection and Ric-Rack Resource Interaction Council.

Other local organizations receiving donations upon the store’s opening include:

• Christ Fellowship Church

• Dawson County Chamber of Commerce

• Dawson County Emergency Services

• Dawson County Humane Society

• Dawson County Sheriff’s Department

• Northeast Georgia Boy Scout Troop 109

• Prevent Blindness Georgia

Each Wal-Mart store has the opportunity for many organizations to receive grants upon opening day and throughout the year through Wal-Mart’s Good Works community involvement program. The store will also have a budget to give donations away locally throughout the year. Organizations interested in receiving funding can contact the store.

Grand Opening Activities

Members of Boy Scout Troop #109 will present the colors, and Randy Barker and Carrie Wright, Wal-Mart associates, will perform the national anthem at the 7:30 a.m. grand opening ceremony. Other activities planned during the grand opening event include numerous product samples, costumed characters and giveaways. A radio remote by 101.5 KICKS along with Braves Around Town is scheduled the day of the grand opening.

Wal-Mart in Georgia

EDITOR’S NOTE: See www.walmartfacts.com for more information about Wal-Mart in Georgia.

As of May 2006, Wal-Mart employed 53,707 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in the state of Georgia:

• Supercenters: 104

• Discount Stores: 14

• SAM’S CLUBS: 21

• Distribution Centers: 9

Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of Georgia more than $450.8 million in sales taxes in 2005 and paid more than $51.6 million in state and local taxes.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM’S CLUB locations in the United States. The company has operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company’s securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NYSE Arca, formerly the Pacific Stock Exchange, under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartfacts.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com

EDITOR’S NOTES

• Wal-Mart store employees are called associates.

• An invitation-only open house for VIPs, Wal-Mart associates and their families is scheduled for Monday, July 17, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Preview tours will be provided. Checks will be presented to representatives of the community organizations this evening. Reporters and photographers are welcome..

* Average wage taken yearly (December 2005). See www.walmartfacts.com for more details.

FACT SHEET

Dawsonville Wal-Mart Supercenter

Store fast facts

• Location: 156 Power Center Drive, Dawsonville, Ga.

• 203,818-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter

• Store opening 8 a.m., Wednesday, July 19; 7:30 a.m. grand opening ceremony

• Store manager: Dennis Dickson

Store features

• Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products and fresh produce, apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, full line of electronics

• Other special features: wider aisles, hardwood floors in apparel, larger restrooms, expanded home electronics, Tire & Lube Express, vision center, McDonald’s restaurant, Regal nail salon, portrait studio, one-hour photo lab, pharmacy, Wal-Mart Connect Center

• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

• Eighteen full-service, six express and four self check-out lanes

Employment

• 350 new jobs; 1,200 applicants

• The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Georgia is $10.33 per hour.*

• Approximately 76 percent of Wal-Mart store managers started as hourly associates.

* Average wage taken yearly (December 2005). See www.walmartfacts.com for details.

Charitable giving

• $28,500 in charitable contributions to 10 area organizations

o Christ Fellowship Church

o Dawson County Board of Education

o Dawson County Chamber of Commerce