Duct Tape and Wal-Mart Trucks Are Rolling in Alaska
Gov. Palin to cut duct tape ribbon to officially open Wasilla Supercenter;
Store opening marks arrival of the very first Wal-Mart truck in Alaska
WASILLA, Alaska, Oct. 25, 2007 – It’s not a red carpet, but it does come on a roll. The newly expanded Wal-Mart Supercenter in Wasilla will have plenty of duct tape on hand as the store officially opens its doors to the public Wednesday, Oct. 31. Wasilla has the distinction of being proclaimed the “Duck Tape Capital of the World” selling miles and miles of the sticky multi-purpose tape annually. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be on hand to cut the store’s ceremonial ribbon, made of duct tape, of course. Wal-Mart stores in Alaska traditionally receive their goods by shipping container, but Friday, Oct. 26, the first Wal-Mart truck to enter Alaska crossed the state line on its way to deliver merchandise to the newly expanded store. The store is located at 1350 S. Seward Meridian Pkwy. and is the second Supercenter to open in Alaska. The first opened in Juneau in September.
A Store that Fits the Community
In 2002, the Wasilla Wal-Mart store sold the most duct tape of any Wal-Mart store in the world, the equivalent of 325 miles. Manco, Inc., manufacturers of Duck Tape® brand duct tape, honored the community in 2003 with a celebration to mark the occasion. Although the duct tape distinction is an important part of Wasilla’s culture, area residents have many other passions, including the love of outdoor sports, their pets and seasonal gardening and landscaping. The new Supercenter caters to these activities with sporting goods, lawn and garden and pet departments that are larger than those of typical Supercenters. The store also features a ranch-style façade with exposed beams and a selection of Alaskan merchandise.
“Wal-Mart associates are my neighbors and they have added a lot to our community in many different ways,” said Wasilla Mayor Dianne Keller.
One-Stop Shopping Under Store’s Rustic Roof
According to Store Manager Marlene Munsell, the store originally opened in 1994 and was moved up the street to its present location in 1999. The recent expansion has increased the store’s size by approximately 64,214 square feet. Shoppers can select from a full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce and organic products, as well as an expanded electronics and home entertainment section offering the latest in laptops, digital media players and high-definition flat screen televisions. It also features apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, health and beauty departments, a one-hour photo lab and a pharmacy. Leased areas include a portrait studio, a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a Regal Nail Salon, a McDonald’s restaurant and a branch of Wells Fargo Bank. The store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Charitable Giving Marks Grand Opening
It is customary for local community groups to receive grants from Wal-Mart in celebration of grand opening and throughout the year. In that tradition, the Wasilla store will donate $16,000 to charitable organizations that help the community at their grand opening. Organizations interested in receiving funding can contact the store for details. Editor’s note: For a full list of grants, see page three of this release.
Gov. Palin to Lead Grand Opening Celebration
The ceremony to officially open the store will begin at 7:30 a.m., Oct. 31, with members of the Wasilla High School Choirs performing the national anthem, and Robert Keunning, an elder at the Valley Church of Christ, leading the invocation. Gov. Palin will cut the duct tape “ribbon” to officially open the new store. Other activities taking place during grand opening day include product samples, giveaways and character appearances.
Wal-Mart in Alaska
As of September 2007, Wal-Mart owned and operated the following facilities in the state:
• Supercenters: 1
• Discount Stores: 7
• Sam’s Clubs: 3
In the fiscal year ended 2007, Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of Alaska more than $5 million in sales taxes and paid more than $7.4 million in state and local taxes.
Click here for more information about Wal-Mart in Alaska.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of 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.
EDITOR’S NOTES
• An invitation-only open house was held Monday morning, Oct. 29, at 9:15 a.m. Photographers and reporters were welcome.
• Store Manager Marlene Munsell can provide details about the grand opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange photo opportunities. She can be reached at 907-376-8728.
FACT SHEET
Wasilla Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store fast facts
• Location: 1350 S. Seward Meridian Pkwy., Wasilla, Alaska
• 220,247-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
• Originally opened in 1994; moved to present location in 1999
• Grand opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 31
• Store Manager: Marlene Munsell
Charitable giving
• $16,000 in charitable contributions to five area organizations:
• American Red Cross Mat-Su Chapter
• Boys and Girls Clubs of South Central Alaska
• City of Houston Volunteer Fire Department
• Mat-Su College
• Susitna Valley High School Parent-Teacher-Student Organization
Store features
• Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, organic products, apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, lawn and garden center, toys, health and beauty aids, full line of electronics, pharmacy, one-hour photo lab, portrait studio, SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, Regal Nail Salon, McDonald’s restaurant, Wells Fargo Bank branch
• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• 26 full-service and eight express checkout lanes
Employment
• Total employment of 600, including 240 planned new positions.
• The average hourly wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Alaska is $12.05 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, business performance-based bonuses, stock purchase program and life insurance.
• Store Manager Marlene Munsell began her Wal-Mart career 17 years ago as a customer service manager at a store in Riverton, Wyo.
*Average wage taken August 2007. See www.walmartfacts.com for details.
For more information
• Store manager: Marlene Munsell, 907-376-9730
• Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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