Wal-Mart Supercenter Saves Money and Energy
Front Royal store features a new furniture line and energy-efficient technology FRONT ROYAL, Va., June 1, 2008 – Front Royal’s new Wal-Mart Supercenter will open on Wednesday, June 11, with some new features that shoppers can see and some that they cannot. The store will carry new products and services such as the new Canopy™ line of affordable furniture and a MoneyCenter, which provides a variety of low-cost banking services. It will also feature the latest environmentally friendly technology including behind-the-scenes features that help reduce the store’s energy usage. The store is located at 10 Riverton Commons Drive. Store Carries New Furniture Line and Features Wal-Mart MoneyCenter
According to Store Manager Michael Quilliam, the store will carry furniture and accessories by the Canopy™ brand as part of Wal-Mart’s efforts to provide exceptional quality at Wal-Mart prices. The products are affordable for families and individuals on a budget and are typically 40 percent less expensive than similar pieces that can be found at competing stores. A mar-resistant finish on the wood pieces as well as the spill-resistant fabric on the upholstered furniture makes the furniture an attractive purchase for active families. The new Supercenter will also have a Wal-Mart MoneyCenter to assist customers who are outside of mainstream banking with convenient access to low-cost money services, including check cashing, money orders, bill payment and money transfers. MoneyCenters provide a safe, convenient place for customers to pay bills, cash checks, purchase money orders and pay utilities. They can also purchase a Wal-Mart Money Card, a reloadable prepaid Visa® card that can be used like a checking account to make purchases, pay bills and receive direct deposit of wages. Wal-Mart credit card services include the company’s private label credit card as well as the Wal-Mart Discover card for qualified customers. The 203,716 square foot store will also feature a pharmacy with two drive-through lanes, a Tire & Lube Express, a garden center, and a Wal-Mart Connect Center for cellular phones and accessories. Leased areas include a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a Regal Nail Salon, a Subway restaurant and a branch of Woodforest Bank. Commitment to the Environment
The new Front Royal Supercenter, like all new Wal-Mart stores, was constructed with technology designed to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. “Wal-Mart is setting the bar for energy efficiency in retail,” said Quilliam. “Simple changes can make a big difference. The store’s 109 skylights, for example, harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily.” 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 are not present. LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. Part of the cement used in the store’s concrete flooring is made with recycled materials, and the baseboards are manufactured from 100 percent recycled plastic. The new store also features a recycling program in which plastic hangers, aluminum cans and office paper are sandwiched between cardboard, bundled into bales and sent to recycling centers. Finally, the store will sell reusable bags for $1 each in an effort to reduce the amount of disposable plastic shopping bags it needs; if Wal-Mart sells 2 million reusable bags company-wide, it can avoid producing 100 million plastic bags, requiring the use of 1,185,000 pounds of plastic resin. Support for the Community
In celebration of the grand opening, community organizations will receive $19,000 in grants. Local support will include a donation to the Blue Ridge Opportunities Job Readiness Academy. The Job Readiness Academy provides disabled adults in Front Royal with job skills training to assist them in entering and succeeding in the workforce.
“We are very thankful for the support Wal-Mart is giving to our organization,” said Cathy Wolfe-Heberly, president of Blue Ridge Opportunities. “This donation will give more than 60 local residents the opportunity develop the skills they need to obtain a job.” The new store will provide contributions throughout the year to help neighborhood organizations. Groups interested in learning more about funding from Wal-Mart can contact the store for details. (Editor’s note: For a complete list of organizations receiving grand opening grants from the Front Royal store, please see the final page of this release.) New Store Brings Jobs and Opportunities
According to Quilliam, the new store plans to hire 430 associates, bringing hundreds of new jobs to the community. The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Virginia is approximately $10.87 per hour.* “Many associates joined because they know they have the opportunity for a long-lasting career at Wal-Mart,” said Quilliam, who began his Wal-Mart career 14 years ago as an hourly associate in Henderson, Ky. The majority of Wal-Mart store management joined the company as hourly associates. The new Front Royal Supercenter will employ 18 associates who have worked for Wal-Mart for more than 10 years. Grand Opening Ceremony Details
The store welcomes the community to attend its grand opening celebration at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 11. Rev. James Kilby will begin the ceremony with an invocation. Sammy Campbell will perform the national anthem with Marine Color Guard presenting the colors. Mayor James Eastman and Chairman Archie Fox, of the Board of Supervisors, will cut the ribbon, officially opening the new Supercenter. The store will celebrate its grand opening with giveaways, product samples, character appearances and other special activities planned throughout the day. 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, June 9 beginning at 6 p.m. Preview tours will be provided and grant checks will be presented to representatives of local community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Michael Quilliam, 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 540-635-4140.
- Statements and quotes on behalf of Wal-Mart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
FACT SHEET
Front Royal Wal-Mart Supercenter Store fast facts - Location: 10 Riverton Commons Drive, Front Royal, Va.
- 203,716-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
- Grand opening celebration: 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 11
- Store manager: Michael Quilliam
Charitable giving
$19,000 in charitable contributions to area organizations: - Warren County Public Schools
- American Red Cross
- Blue Ridge Opportunities
- Warren County Sheriff’s Office
- Blue Ridge Hospice, Inc.
- Warren County Anti-Litter Council
- Downtown Front Royal Inc.
- Town of Front Royal Police Department
- Blue Ridge Arts Council
- Warren County Parks and Recreation
- Warren Memorial Hospital Foundation
Store features - Environmentally friendly technology designed to increase energy efficiency and reduce waste.
- Full line of groceries, beer and wine, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, expanded lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, expanded electronics and home entertainment department, toys, pharmacy with two drive-through lanes, Tire & Lube Express, Wal-Mart Connect Center, and a Wal-Mart MoneyCenter.
- Additionally, leased areas in the store include SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a Regal Nail Salon, a Woodforest Bank branch and a Subway restaurant.
- The new Supercenter will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Employment - The store plans to employ approximately 430 associates.
- The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Virginia is $10.87 per hour.*
- Store Manager Michael Quilliam began his Wal-Mart career as third shift stocker in 1994 at a Wal-Mart store in Henderson, Ky.
- 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 May 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for details. For more information - Store manager: Michael Quilliam, 540-635-4140
- Statements and quotes on behalf of Wal-Mart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
- Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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