Hibbing Supercenter Renovation Aims to Please Area Shoppers
Walmart unveils fresh look, expanded selections and same great values HIBBING, Minn., Sept. 25, 2008 – On Wednesday, Oct. 1 Walmart will debut the completion of its 10-week remodel project for its store on Highway 169. As a result of the new layout design and added merchandise selection, customers will experience improved store navigation and an enhanced shopping experience overall.
The store will officially unveil the changes at a grand re-opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Upgrades to the store include a new interior color palette, renovated pharmacy and wider aisles. Hibbing is known as an avid outdoor community, so the store also will provide ready access to hunting and fishing supplies with a separate check-out area to make acquiring a license or purchasing the latest fall hunting and fishing supplies more convenient. “Our customers will notice more than great values as they shop for their every day needs,” said Store Manager Cameron Stowe. “The new design highlights our wide selection of camping supplies to camouflage apparel.” “We have a strong hunting and fishing community here in Hibbing, so we wanted to be sure to have the right product mix to meet the needs of our customers.” Energy Efficient Store Upgrades
The store’s newly remodeled areas include energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. The store’s remodeled bathrooms also have devices that regulate water flow in the sinks. During the remodel, metal shelving and store fixtures were recycled. The store will continue efforts to recycle waste through a sandwich bale process that takes loose plastic, hangers, aluminum cans and office paper, sandwiches them between cardboard, bundles them into bales, and sends them to recycling centers. “At Walmart, we know that being a good steward of the environment and operating a profitable business are goals that can work together,” Stowe said. New Look and Expanded Selections
Walmart’s new interior design incorporates low shelving, directional signage and wider aisles to welcome customers as they enter the store. Freshly painted walls throughout the entire store designate the store’s merchandise areas by color. Each color highlights departments to help customers navigate their shopping lists with greater ease. The pharmacy was relocated and moved closer to the entrance, making it easy to access. It has a more spacious customer area with additional service windows to assist shoppers who rely on Walmart’s pharmacy for more affordable prescriptions. The store continues to offer hundreds of generic prescriptions for $4, helping to ease the burden of rising health care costs for customers and associates. In addition, increased merchandise selections provide local shoppers an array of products at every day low prices like the latest in electronic gadgets to home entertainment systems. “Our selection of high-definition TVs and digital media players has more than doubled,” Stowe said. “The new layout and displays in our remodeled electronics department will be another feature customers will enjoy.” The store’s home department now groups items from domestics, bedding and home décor together to make decorating easier for shoppers. Customers making home improvements will appreciate the speed and accuracy of the new computerized paint mixing equipment. A new department called Celebration Station was also added to provide party supplies, greeting cards, balloons and helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap to shoppers planning a get-together. The store’s home décor and organization areas now combine furniture, storage solutions and coordinated accessories, simplifying the decorating process. The store also carries Walmart’s new line of furniture and accessories by Canopy™, which is prominently displayed in the home department of the store. The products are budget-friendly, typically 40 percent less expensive than similar pieces found at competing stores. Families with active young children will appreciate the mar-resistant finish on the wood pieces as well as the spill-resistant fabric on the upholstered furniture. Store Associates Set to Serve Community
“We have a team of associates who are ready to assist customers when they visit the store,” said Stowe. “We are proud to have the opportunity to enhance the shopping experience for our friends and neighbors, and excited to also add 65 more new jobs.” The store employs approximately 300 associates. Grand Re-opening Activities
The grand re-opening celebration will be Wednesday, Oct. 1, and will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Store associates will watch Mayor Rick Wolf cut the ribbon as Hibbing High School’s band plays the national anthem. The local VFW will present the colors and a local pastor will lead the convocation. In celebration of the grand re-opening, the store will recognize local organizations who have received over a half million dollars in grants since the store opening seven years ago. “As a long-time member of the Hibbing community, we understand the importance of giving back locally and supporting community groups that make this city a better place to live and work. We are glad to have the opportunity to help these organizations and community groups,” said Stowe. “I want to thank Walmart for its confidence and reinvestment in our community,” said Mayor Rick Wolf. “Walmart has given much to Hibbing in both donations and people volunteers. I applaud their commitment and partnership with Hibbing.” About Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart 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 Stores, Inc. (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 - Cameron Stowe, store manager, can provide details about the grand re-opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours and can be contacted at 218-262-2351.
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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