Greensboro Wal-Mart Supercenter to Jumpstart Growth
Store brings hundreds of new jobs to market; thousands of dollars for charity
GREENSBORO, N.C., Aug. 14, 2006 – More than 4,000 people already have applied for jobs at the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Greensboro, which will open on Aug. 16. The 206,250-square-foot store is expected to advance revitalization efforts in the northeast section of Greensboro on land where the razed Carolina Circle Mall stood for many years.
Store Manager Solomon Sinclair says Wal-Mart is the first major retailer to open in the area where the mall had once been a popular shopping destination. “This will really give a shot in the arm to the economic infrastructure of the community,” Sinclair says. “At least one other major retailer is expected to follow our lead, along with some smaller retail shops.”
Sinclair says the store will bring close to 400 new jobs to the market, most of which will be full-time positions. Thus far, Wal-Mart has hired 368 new associates, all of whom are preparing the store for its grand opening.
Store Grand Opens with New Supercenter Designs
The new store, designed as a convenient one-stop family shopping center, will hold its grand opening celebration at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday with presentations from community leaders sharing their views on the positive economic impact the Supercenter brings to the community, beginning with new jobs, every day low prices, tax revenue and an initial $34,250 in donations to local charities. Doors to the new store will open to the public at 8 a.m. The store is located at 2720 Ring Road.
Sinclair says the Supercenter is Wal-Mart’s newest prototype, featuring wider aisles, new navigation signage to provide direction of “place” throughout the store, an updated color scheme, along with special services such as a drive-through pharmacy and a bank. The store features 36 general merchandise departments including apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, a lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and a full line of electronics. In addition, the store offers a bakery, a delicatessen, a frozen food section and meat, dairy and fresh produce sections. It will be open to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Other store features include a Tire & Lube Express, a McDonald’s restaurant, beer and wine sales, a portrait studio, a one-hour photo lab, a vision center, a pharmacy with two drive-up lanes, a SmartStyle hair salon and a Regal Nails salon. The store will also have a Woodforest Bank branch, a Murphy USA gasoline station and a Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless phone sales.
Big Interest in Available Jobs
More than 4,000 applications have already been received for the 400 planned positions at the new store. This is 10 applications for every available job opening. “We were pleased in the level of interest to be a part of our team, but this response is on par with other large cities where many are looking for the kind of career opportunities and benefits Wal-Mart provides,” said Store Manager Solomon Sinclair. Wal-Mart stores created 240,000 new jobs over the past three years in the United States. The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in North Carolina is $10.25 per hour.*
Grand Opening Ceremony Details
The store welcomes the community to attend its grand opening celebration on Aug. 16. Representatives from the local Cub Scout Pack will present the colors at the grand opening ceremony. Customer service supervisor Sylvia Blount will perform the national anthem and Greensboro City Council member Goldie Wells will help cut the ribbon to officially open the new Supercenter.
Other activities planned include performances by the North Carolina A & T Drumline, the Dudley High School Band and the North Carolina A & T cheerleaders. There will also be character appearances by the Pillsbury Doughboy, Tony the Tiger and R.I.C.K the Robot. Numerous product samples and giveaways will be distributed throughout the day.
Wal-Mart benefits – available to full- and part-time associates – include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. Wal-Mart offers a choice of as many as 18 health plans that cost as little as $23 a month. Wal-Mart also offers a 401(k) plan and profit sharing contributions, whether an associate contributes or not, store discount cards, performance-based bonuses, discounted stock purchase program and life insurance.
Wal-Mart Economic Impact in North Carolina
EDITOR’S NOTE: See www.walmartfacts.com for more information about Wal-Mart in North Carolina.
As of May 2006, Wal-Mart employed 48,816 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in the state of North Carolina as of last month:
- Supercenters: 81
- Discount Stores: 34
- SAM’S CLUBS: 19
- Distribution Centers: 4
In 2005, Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of North Carolina more than $448.3 million in sales taxes and paid more than $44.8 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. Internationally, the company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company’s securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges 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.
- Solomon Sinclair, store manager, can provide details about the grand opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours. He can be contacted at 336-375-5445.
- An invitation-only open house for VIPs, Wal-Mart associates and their families is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 13, 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
Greensboro Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store fast facts
- Location: 2720 Ring Road, Greensboro. N.C.
- 206,250-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
- Store opening 8 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16; 7:30 a.m. grand opening ceremony
- Store manager: Solomon Sinclair
Charitable giving
$34,250 in charitable contributions will be provided to various area organizations including:
- Bessemer Elementary School
- City of Greensboro Fire Department
- City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation
- City of Greensboro Police Department
- Dudley High School
- Family Service of the Piedmont
- Greensboro Urban Ministry
- Hampton Leadership Academy
- Mary’s House Inc.
- National Black Child Development Institute
- Project Linus
- Rankin Elementary School
- Ronald McDonald House of Durham
- Senior Resources of Guilford
- Youth Focus Inc.
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, a Tire & Lube Express, a McDonald’s restaurant, beer and wine sales, a portrait studio, a one-hour photo lab, a vision center, a pharmacy with two drive-up lanes, a SmartStyle hair salon and a Regal Nails salon. In addition, the store will have a Woodforest Bank branch, a Murphy USA gasoline station and a Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless phone sales.
- Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- 21 full-service, one express and eight self check-out lanes
Employment
- Store currently employs 368. Thus far the store received 4,000 applications for 400 planned jobs
- Majority of jobs are full-time.
- The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in North Carolina is $10.25 per hour.*
- Manager Solomon Sinclair started as an hourly associate seven years ago at a store in Farmville, Va.
- Wal-Mart benefits – available to full- and part-time associates – include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. Wal-Mart offers a choice of as many as 18 health plans that cost as little as $23 a month. Wal-Mart also offers a 401(k) plan and profit sharing contributions, whether an associate contributes or not, store discount cards, performance-based bonuses, discounted stock purchase program and life insurance.
* Average wage taken December 2005. See www.walmartfacts.com for details.
For more information
- Store manager: Solomon Sinclair, 336-375-5445
- Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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