Wal-Mart Supercenter Caters to Local Residents and Tourists Needs
Store façade reflects local community history CLINTON, Tenn., May 14, 2008 – Local residents and those traveling along Interstate 75 to and from the Great Smoky Mountains will have a new place for one-stop shopping beginning May 21. Clinton’s first Wal-Mart Supercenter opens its doors at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 21. City leaders expect the store to provide a number of benefits to the community, including increased tax revenue, hundreds of new jobs, and added convenience and savings closer to home. “I think the biggest attribute is keeping local customers shopping in town and creating a center of retail convenience,” says Steve Jones, Clinton city manager. “Not only will the store boost sales tax revenues in Clinton and north Anderson County from our residents, but it will also bring new revenue from travelers along I-75.” The store, located at 120 Tanner Lane, has a special exterior design to pay tribute to Clinton’s history. Its arched windows on the front façade echo the design elements of the Green McAdoo Cultural Center. Jones says after an initial tour of the city, store leaders and developers wanted to recognize Clinton’s history when designing the building. “Incorporating elements of the old Green McAdoo school into the design of the store helped make it a beautiful structure and it is obviously very unique to our area,” says Jones. “This project has progressed as smoothly as I’ve ever seen one progress. It has been real professionalism in action.” Store’s Selection to Reflect Needs of Area Residents
Due to the store’s location near Norris Lake, Lawson says it is the ideal stop for campers and anglers needing to purchase items for their getaway. “Our Tire and Lube Express features a bay for recreational vehicle service due to the number of vacationers and locals we have in this region who visit campsites in their RVs,” explains Lawson. “We’ve made sure our sporting goods department features a wide selection of fishing rods, reels and lures for a successful day on the lake.” In addition, due to its proximity to the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, the Supercenter will sell an array of Volunteer’s clothing and merchandise. New Home Décor Selection Offered
Another highlight of the 194,000-square-foot store is the new expanded home furnishings department which will feature products from Wal-Mart’s new Canopy™ brand, a line of durable, affordable furniture and home accessories. The line carries furniture for every room in the home or home office as well as table and bath linens, tableware, lamps and rugs. Wood pieces are designed with active families in mind and feature a mar-resistant Hard Coat finish. Spills are easily cleaned on the upholstered pieces, which are covered in stain-resistant chenille. Products in the home furnishings department will be organized by room and will feature more visible signage and displays showing how the products coordinate in a given room. And just in time for summer, the Supercenter’s outdoor living department with drive-through accessibility offers everything from fresh plants and flowers, to gardening tools and pots, to outdoor furniture options. Focus on Sustainability
This new store, like all new Wal-Mart stores, was constructed with energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. For example, the store recycles everything from motor oil to waste cooking oil. And plastic hangers, aluminum cans and office paper are sandwiched between cardboard, bundled into bales and sent to recycling centers. “The store also has numerous skylights to harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily,” says Lawson. “While the freezer cases and non-sales areas of the store have LED lights and sensors that automatically shut off the lights when those areas are unoccupied or customers or associates are not present.” LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. The new store is also committed to offering products that are affordable and sustainable. Wal-Mart Solidifies its Commitment to the Community
As a part of the grand opening celebration, store leaders will present $18,000 in grants to local non-profit groups, including $5,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley. The Green McAdoo Cultural Organization, the City of Clinton, Clinton High School and Anderson County High School will each receive $2,500 grants. (See page 3 for a full list of grant recipients.) “We are committed to being a good community partner right from the start,” says Lawson. “To distribute grant money to several worthwhile organizations in our community on opening day is exciting. We look forward to our tradition of giving back throughout the year.” Economic Stimulus Support
As economic stimulus payments begin to be distributed, Wal-Mart is giving customers the freedom to spend their dollars on what they and their families need. All Wal-Mart stores, including the new Clinton Supercenter, will cash economic stimulus checks for free – with no purchase required. Wal-Mart has also lined up rollbacks and additional price savings in the coming weeks on items throughout the store to help shoppers stretch their dollars. Internal Wal-Mart research shows its prices on frequently purchased items can be up to 25 percent lower than competitors. With more than six in 10 Americans expecting their stimulus checks to cover their family needs, it’s a price gap that will deliver real value in the weeks ahead. No purchase will be necessary to cash the check without charge at any Wal-Mart customer service desk or Wal-Mart MoneyCenter. 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 $296 million to local communities in the United States.To learn more, visit www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org. EDITOR’S NOTES
• An invitation-only open house for VIPs, Wal-Mart associates and their families is scheduled for Monday, May 19, at 6 p.m. Preview tours will be provided and checks will be presented to the community organizations this evening. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
• Aaron Lawson, 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 865-457-4121.
• Statements and quotes on behalf of Wal-Mart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees. FACT SHEET
Clinton Wal-Mart Supercenter Store fast facts
• Location: 120 Tanner Lane, Clinton, Tenn.
• 194,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
• Grand opening celebration: 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 21; doors to open at 8 a.m.
• Preview night: Monday, May 19, 6 p.m. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
• Store manager: Aaron Lawson Charitable giving
$18,000 in charitable contributions will be provided to area organizations including:
• Anderson County High School
• Anderson County Sheriff’s Department
• Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley
• City of Clinton
• City of Clinton Fire Department
• City of Clinton Police Department
• Clinton High School
• Green McAdoo Cultural Organization Store features
• Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, beer sales, apparel and accessories, toys, books, infant section, fine jewelry, expanded electronics and home entertainment department, home décor, sporting goods, outdoor living center with drive-through accessibility, health and beauty aids, one-hour photo lab, pharmacy with two drive-through lanes, family fun center, Wal-Mart Connect Center, Tire and Lube Express with a bay to service recreational vehicles
• Additionally, leased areas in the store include a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a McDonalds restaurant and a Fort Sill National Bank branch
• The new Supercenter will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Employment
• The store plans to employ approximately 380 associates.
• The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Tennessee is $10.85 per hour.*
• Store Manager Aaron Lawson began his Wal-Mart career in 1996 in Plainfield, Ind.
• 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, company performance-based bonuses, stock purchase program and life insurance.
* Average wage taken April 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for details. Wal-Mart in Tennessee
Click here for more information about Wal-Mart in Tennessee.
• As of April, Wal-Mart employed 41,713 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in Tennessee:
• Supercenters: 102
• Discount Stores: 5
• Neighborhood Markets: 6
• Sam’s Clubs: 16
• Distribution Centers: 2 For more information
• Store manager: Aaron Lawson, 865-457-4121 # # #
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