Bikes, Toys and Fresh Features Fill New Highland Village Wal-Mart
Retailer expands sustainability efforts with newest High-Efficiency Supercenter
HIGHLAND VILLAGE, Texas, Nov. 4, 2007 – The new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Highland Village opens on Wednesday, Nov. 7, and has been specially designed to fulfill the shopping needs of the local community with innovative features that include a bike shop, children’s entertainment area and a new approach to fresh food. The store is also built to minimize its impact on the environment; it’s the third High-Efficiency store to open this year. The Supercenter opens to the public at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 7, after a grand opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m.
The Supercenter is the anchor of the 66-acre Marketplace at Highland Village located on the northeast corner of FM 407 and FM 2499. Using input from local residents, Wal-Mart used brick, limestone, large windows, and a standing seam metal roof to create a store that resembles ranches in the Texas hill country. The retailer also took special effort to save a large pecan tree on the site, changing the orientation of the store to allow the tree to be incorporated into the extensive landscaping. In honor of the new store, Wal-Mart has donated hundreds of trees to the City of Highland Village and gave away an additional 100 young trees at a special tree dedication ceremony Nov. 3.
The tree is one example of Wal-Mart’s commitment to be a good steward of the environment, but its efforts go far beyond symbols. The Highland Village store is the third High-Efficiency Wal-Mart Supercenter to open in 2007. The stores are located in a variety of climate zones to evaluate how the systems perform and expected to use 20 percent less energy than a typical Supercenter. The stores feature industry-leading advancements such as integrated heating, cooling and refrigeration systems, and lighting innovations to conserve energy. (See page four for more information on High-Efficiency stores.)
Fun for the Whole Family with Bike Shop, Toyland, and More
Many of the neighborhoods in the area are connected by a system of biking and walking trails, and local residents will be able to use the trails to access the new store. As a result, the Highland Village Supercenter has a full-service biking center, with an extensive selection of bikes and a repair shop. The department will employ professionally trained bike mechanics to provide quality service, maintenance and repair. Cyclists will be able to take a break in the rest area outside the store, which offers a gazebo, a water fountain and an air hose.
The department will offer customers an extensive range of high quality bikes, including desirable brands such as Schwinn and Mongoose. “Our wide variety of bikes will include something for everyone, from a child getting his or her first bicycle to the serious cyclist looking to upgrade. We’ll have youth bikes, road bikes, cruiser bikes, adult trikes, tandem bikes, electric bikes and an expanded assortment of comfort and hybrid bikes,” said Store Manager Brad Cullum. “We’re especially delighted to feature Schwinn Women’s Inspired bikes, which are ergonomically designed for the female rider, and the new style of Electric Bikes from Currie,” he added.
The bike shop won’t be the only place with merchandise suited for families and children. The Highland Village store is one of the first in the country to feature a newly designed Toyland with signage to highlight brands and interactive displays, which allow kids to experience new items and have fun while shopping. The displays are color-coded for shoppers’ convenience - blue for boys’ toys, pink for girls’, green for unisex toys, and yellow for items appropriate for toddlers and infants. The store also boasts a children’s entertainment section, with an expanded selection of books, movies and music for youngsters.
New Supercenter Brings Enhanced Wal-Mart Features, Variety
The 203,091-square-foot Supercenter was designed to offer customers one-stop shopping convenience throughout its grocery and merchandise areas. Thanks to its new approach to fresh food, the aroma of freshly baked artisan breads will greet shoppers as they enter the grocery area. Customers on the go can pick up tasty salads and sandwiches in the deli or select items from the store’s sushi bar and soup bar. In the deli, shoppers will be able to pick up a freshly prepared pizza and have it baked while they shop or opt to bake it at home. The chef in the family will enjoy selecting from the many types of vegetables and fruit in the store’s expanded produce area. The store’s full line of groceries also includes frozen foods and meat and dairy products. And to cater to local tastes, the store will offer a large assortment of organic products, gourmet meats and cheeses and an extensive selection of wines and specialty beers.
Customers will find a service center near the entrance where they can easily pick up packages they’ve ordered from walmart.com, register for gifts or process their digital photos. They’ll also be able to print poster-sized photos up to 20”x30” in dimension, design scrapbook pages, and compile complete albums. Dunkin’ Donuts will operate a restaurant and a separate coffee shop in the store, where free wireless internet access will be available. Other time-saving conveniences include a pharmacy with two drive-through lanes and a vision center.
The lawn and garden center features a large selection of live plants and outdoor furniture, as well as a drive-through loading area. The store also has expanded home entertainment and electronics departments offering the latest digital cameras, media players, DVD players and high-definition, LCD and plasma televisions. Animal lovers will find a wide selection of supplies in the pet department, including an expanded line of pet apparel. Other merchandise areas include apparel and accessories, sporting goods, home fashions and fine jewelry.
Community Grants to Support Local Organizations
According to Cullum, the Highland Village Supercenter will announce $29,000 in donations to help celebrate its grand opening. With its location in Denton County on the border between the cities of Highland Village and Flower Mound, the store is providing grants to a variety of local organizations, including public safety agencies and programs that serve children, families and seniors. (See page three for a list of grant recipients.)
Like all Wal-Mart stores, the Highland Village store will provide grant dollars throughout the year to help its neighborhood organizations. Area organizations interested in learning more about funding from Wal-Mart or interested in raising money at Wal-Mart stores can contact the store for details, or go to www.walmartfoundation.org.
Community Invited to Share in Grand Opening Festivities 7:30 a.m., Nov. 7
The store welcomes the community to attend its celebration at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 7. Rev. Paul McGarvey, associate pastor of Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, will offer a benediction, and Wal-Mart associate Heidi Gearhart will perform the national anthem. Students from Marcus High School will present the colors. Store Manager Brad Cullum and local officials will cut the ribbon to the store. Additional activities planned during grand opening day include numerous product samples, giveaways and character appearances.
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
• Brad Cullum, 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 972-317-4951.
FACT SHEET
Highland Village Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store Fast Facts
• Location: 3060 FM 407, Highland Village, Texas
• 203,091-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
• Store opens at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 7, following a 7:30 a.m. ceremony
• Store manager: Brad Cullum
Store Features
• Departments including family apparel, expanded household organization department, health and beauty aids, household needs, expanded electronics department, toys, infant section, lawn and garden supplies, jewelry and shoes
• Bike department features a wide range of bicycles and cycling-related products at a variety of price points. A bike repair area will employ professionally trained bike mechanics to provide quality service, maintenance and repair
• Other special features: pharmacy with drive-through service, photo lab, vision center, beer and wine sales, sushi bar, soup bar, Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant and coffee shop with wireless internet access.
• The store is a High-Efficiency Supercenter designed to use 20 percent less energy than a typical Supercenter.
• Open to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Thirteen full-service, 14 express and eight self check-out lanes
Employment
• Store plans to hire 400 associates
• Store Manager Brad Cullum began his Wal-Mart career in 1991 as an hourly associate, working as a cashier at a store in Denton
• Ten associates have worked at Wal-Mart for more than 10 years; two associates have more than 20 years with the retailer
• The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is approximately $10.65 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, stock purchase program and life insurance.
* Average wage taken August 2007. Click here for more details.
Charitable Giving
$29,000 in charitable contributions to 11 area organizations:
• City of Flower Mound Fire Department
• City of Flower Mound – Senior Center
• City of Flower Mound – Youth Action Council
• City of Highland Village
• City of Highland Village Fire Department
• City of Highland Village Parks and Recreation
• City of Highland Village Police Department
• Community Partners of Denton County
• Greater Lewisville Youth & Family
• Lions Club
• Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church
• Communities in Schools of North Texas
FACT SHEET
High-Efficiency Store Features (HE1)
The Highland Village, Texas, store is the third High-Efficiency Wal-Mart Supercenter to open in 2007. The stores are located in a variety of climate zones to evaluate how the systems perform and expected to use 20 percent less energy than a typical Supercenter. The stores feature industry-leading advancements such as integrated heating, cooling and refrigeration systems, and lighting innovations to conserve energy. Other High-Efficiency stores opened earlier this year in Kansas City, Mo., and Rockton, Ill.
In July 2005, Wal-Mart opened the first of its experimental stores in nearby McKinney, Texas, followed by the opening of a similar store in Aurora, Colo., in November 2005, with the hope that successful experiments could someday be incorporated into new store prototypes. The Highland Village High-Efficiency store brings many of these experiments to life.
• To achieve a 20 percent overall energy reduction, the Highland Village store uses a 100 percent integrated water-source format heating, cooling and refrigeration system, where water is harnessed to heat and cool the building.
• Energy-saving motion-activated light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in refrigerator and freezer cases are expected to create a two to three percent energy reduction.
• A state-of-the-art Munters Dehumidification system is expected to increase overall store energy-efficiency by roughly two percent.
• Many floors are made of integrally colored concrete instead of carpet or tile, reducing the need for certain harsh chemical cleaning products.
• All baseboards and chair rails are made of recycled plastic.
• Restroom sinks use sensor-activated, low-flow faucets. The low-flow faucets reduce water flow by 84 percent, while the sensors save approximately 20 percent in water usage over similar, manually-operated systems.
Wal-Mart customers are increasingly becoming familiar with the company’s energy-saving innovations as they are introduced in stores opening across the country. Many new stores now feature daylight-harvesting systems that minimize electricity usage during periods of bright sunlight, motion sensor-driven LED refrigerated and freezer case lighting and polished concrete floors that reduce the need for harsh chemical cleaning products.
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