Wal-Mart Supercenter Finds New Home in the Prairie
Unique store design blends prairie-style with shopping convenience
YELM, Wash., July 11, 2007 – With a distinctive design reflective of the Thurston County prairie, the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Yelm, scheduled to open Wednesday, July 18, at 7:30 a.m., has a look like no other in Washington. A red metal roof punctuates the barn-themed façade that incorporates wood beams and columns, river rock and corrugated metal that flanks the store’s main entrances. Shoppers will also find a replica of the historic Yelm water tower on the corner of the site as a further tribute to the community. The store is located at 17100 state Route 507 S.E.
“Our store is uniquely Yelm,” said Store Manager Sherlita Kennedy. “There is a lot of pride among our associates and we’re anxious to throw these ‘barn doors’ open and start serving our customers.” Kennedy began her Wal-Mart career in a small town in Louisiana and says she understands the importance of quality customer service and commitment to community. That commitment begins at the grand opening when the store announces donations of $18,500 to local organizations.
Convenience and Selection Arrive in Yelm
Wal-Mart’s one-stop shopping includes a large selection of products and services at the new 184,368-square-foot Supercenter. The store’s general merchandise areas include a wide range of infant apparel and products, toys, fine jewelry, an expanded lawn and garden center, and health and beauty section. The store also offers fresh produce, baked goods, a delicatessen, beer and wine, a frozen food section and meat and dairy sections.
For added convenience, the store also has a Tire & Lube Express, a vision center, a pharmacy with two drive-up lanes, a one-hour photo lab and Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless phone sales. Customers can also shop the large home entertainment and electronics department showcasing popular consumer electronics such as digital media players, DVD players and high-definition and plasma televisions.
Additional leased space and services include a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a Blimpie’s restaurant and a branch of Anchor Bank. The store will be open to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
330 Associates to Serve Customers
The new Wal-Mart Supercenter will employ approximately 330 associates. According to Kennedy, more than 1,000 applications have already been received. Wal-Mart offers competitive wages, good benefits and unlimited career opportunities. “I love the work that I do,” said Kennedy. “It’s a great experience to come to a new community and meet new associates, who all have the same opportunities that I have been given in my career.” Kennedy’s first job with Wal-Mart was working as an hourly associate 12 years ago. The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Washington is $11.08 per hour.*
Wal-Mart benefits are available to eligible full- and part-time associates -- including healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. 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.
Community Support Accompanies Openings
Upon opening, the store will announce $18,500 in donations to a number of organizations, including a $4,500 grant to the Yelm Parks Department. The store will also have a budget to give donations away throughout the year. Organizations interested in funding can contact the store for details. (Please see page three for a full listing of grant recipients.)
“We will support the community with much more than their shopping needs,” added Kennedy. “Our store is committed to being a good business neighbor and will work to give back to the organizations in the Yelm area that make this a great place to live.”
A brief grand opening celebration will begin at 7 a.m., with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony. Following the ceremony customers can enjoy product samples, character appearances and giveaways.
Wal-Mart in Washington
Click here for more information about Wal-Mart in Washington.
As of June 2007, Wal-Mart owned and operated the following facilities in the state of Washington:
• Supercenters: 25
• Discount Stores: 20
• Sam’s Clubs: 3
• Distribution Centers: 2
In the fiscal year ended 2007, Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of Washington more than $201.7 million in sales taxes and paid more than $30.9 million in state and local taxes.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, more than 127 million customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.
EDITORS’ NOTES
• A special invitation-only open house for VIPs, Wal-Mart associates and their families is scheduled for Sunday, July 15, beginning at 6 p.m. Preview tours will be provided. Checks will be presented to representatives of the community organizations this evening. Reporters and photographers are welcome..
• Sherlita Kennedy, store manager, can provide details about the grand opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours. She can be contacted at 360-400-8050.
* Average wage taken yearly (December 2006). See www.walmartfacts.com for more details.
FACT SHEET
Yelm Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store fast facts
• Location: 17100 state Route 507 S.E., Yelm, Wash.
• 203,871-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
• Store opening 8 a.m., Wednesday, July 18; 7:30 a.m. grand opening ceremony
• Store manager: Sherlita Kennedy
Store features
• Full line of groceries, bakery goods, beer and wine, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, apparel and accessories, toys, infant section, fine jewelry, expanded lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, full line of electronics, pharmacy with two drive-up lanes, one-hour photo lab, vision center, Tire & Lube Express and Wal-Mart Connect Center
• Leased services include Anchor Bank branch, SmartStyle Family Hair Salon and Blimpie’s restaurant
• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• 17 full-service and eight express check-out lanes
Employment
• Store plans to employ approximately 330 associates; 1,000 applications
• Store Manager Sherlita Kennedy started her Wal-Mart career 12 years ago as an hourly associate at a store in Many, La.
• The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Washington is approximately $11.08 per hour.*
• Wal-Mart benefits – available to eligible full- and part-time associates – include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. 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.
Charitable giving
$18,500 in charitable contributions to the following organizations
• City of Yelm Parks Department
• City of Yelm Police Department
• First in Asia
• Han Woo-Ri Northwest Korean Sports and Cultural Festival
• Rainier Area Building Community
• Southeast Thurston Fire and EMS
• Thurston County Waste and Water Department Lake Clean Up
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5580
• Yelm Adult Community Center
• Yelm High School Football
• Yelm Lions Club
For more information
• Store manager: Sherlita Kennedy, 360-400-8050
• Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
* Average wage taken yearly (December 2006). See www.walmartfacts.com for more details.
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