Supercenters Offer Glimpse Into the Next Generation of Shopping
Walmart unveils new store design in Dallas and Plano DALLAS, Nov. 6, 2008 – Two Walmart Supercenters in Dallas and Plano will celebrate grand openings this month, giving local shoppers a glimpse of the company’s next generation of store design and customer experience. The new Supercenter in Dallas, located at 9301 Forest Lane, will open to customers following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12. The Coit Road Supercenter in Plano revealed the results of a four-month remodel on Nov. 5. Both stores feature wider aisles, enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers than ever before.
“In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh our stores, our merchandising and our customer experience,” said John Murphy, regional vice president of operations. “The improvements we’ve been making have all come together in these two locations resulting in stores that are cleaner, service that is faster, and a feeling in our stores that is friendlier.” The Dallas and Plano Supercenters are among the first stores in the country to feature the new Walmart logo. In June, Walmart announced that U.S. locations would update store logos as part of an ongoing evolution of its overall brand. Layout Improves Customer Experience
The Supercenters are designed to make shopping easy for customers. The layout creates an open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays. Walmart also aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently. The pharmacy, for example, is adjacent to food making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their groceries. “The layout of the stores is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Murphy. “By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase including health and beauty and pet supplies, we are making one-stop shopping even easier.” A bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the stores’ merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly. The Supercenters also bring Walmart customers an expanded electronics department featuring a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment. The new design includes a more hands-on experience for customers with interactive displays for hi-definition Blu-ray, video gaming and portable electronics. The interactive experience makes it easier for shoppers to test new technology including laptops, cameras, phones and GPS units before they purchase. Walmart also combined the customer service desk, site to store pick-up location and photo lab in one area near the entrance. Customers now have easy access to these services, as well as associates on hand to help meet their needs. Supercenter to Make Holiday Shopping a Breeze
The new Supercenters will help customers get a jump on their holiday shopping while saving money. The stores will feature a Christmas Shop where customers can meet all their holiday needs at affordable prices. Budget-conscious shoppers can find Christmas trees, ornaments, wrapping paper, lights and outside decor. “We believe our customers will be looking to stretch their dollars more than ever this holiday season,” said Dallas Store Manager Katherine Bailey. “Our store will provide affordable and convenient solutions to help customers meet their Christmas shopping needs. We look forward to offering unbeatable prices throughout the Christmas shopping season.” Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Dallas and Plano Supercenters include energy efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The stores’ skylights harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. Low-flow toilets and motion-sensitive faucets reduce the water used in the store’s bathrooms. The store also recycles everything from motor oil to waste cooking oil, and uses a sandwich bale process that takes all loose plastic, hangers, aluminum cans and office paper and sandwiches them between cardboard, bundles them into bales and sends them to recycling centers. Dallas Supercenter Debuts SEGA Amusement Center
The Dallas Forest Lane Supercenter will also feature a one-of-a-kind new amusement center format powered by SEGA. In addition to containing amusement games, the environment will feature modern décor and a truly unique and enjoyable entertainment space that provides fun for the entire family. Special activities and giveaways are planned during the Nov.12 grand-opening celebration, including Sonic character appearances. 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. Walmart proudly supports the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods and last year gave more than $296 million to communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartstores.com or www.walmartfoundation.org. EDITOR’S NOTES - Dallas Store Manager Katherine Marie Bailey is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. She can be reached at 972-437-9146.
- Kevin Crawford, Plano store manager, can provide details about the re-grand opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours. He can be contacted at 972-599-1650.
FACT SHEET
Dallas/Forest Lane Walmart Supercenter Store facts - Location: 9301 Forest Lane, Dallas, Texas
- Originally opened in 1995 at 13739 N. Central Expressway
- 217,813-square-foot Walmart Supercenter, gaining an additional 84,000 square feet
- Store opens at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12. Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Rev. Ron Price from Mt. Zion Baptist Church will offer an invocation, and Walmart associates Reuben Brown and Marquita Bonner will sing the national anthem. Throughout the day, customers will be able to enjoy character appearances, product samples and giveaways.
- Store manager: Katherine Marie Bailey
Store features - Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, and fresh produce
- Merchandise departments include apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, lawn and garden center with drive-through loading area, health and beauty aids and a full line of electronics
- Convenience services include a digital photo processing center, family fun center, Walmart Connect Center and a pharmacy with two drive-through lanes
- Leased areas and services include a McDonald’s McCafe restaurant with wi-fi Internet access and a branch of First Convenience Bank
- Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Community Organizations Benefit from Grand Opening Grants
The new Dallas Supercenter is giving away $22,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to mark its grand opening. That support includes a $5,000 grant to the Network of Community Ministries for its food bank and community outreach programs. Another $12,000 in grants will go to organizations that help children and families in need. The $22,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will go to 11 area organizations including: - Boles Children’s Home
- City of Dallas Police Department Northeast Division
- Exchange Club of Lake Highlands
- Lake Highlands High School Wildcat Club
- Lake Highlands High School Wrangler Parent Club
- Leap Foundation
- Network of Community Ministries
- Rise School of Dallas
- Texas Instruments/Senior Source
- Training for Excellence
- YMCA of Lake Highlands
Employment - Store plans to employ approximately 575 associates, including 300 new positions created by the relocation
- Nearly 70 of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years. Nine associates have worked at the store since it originally opened in 1995
- Store Manager Katherine Marie Bailey started her career with Walmart as an hourly associate, working part-time at a store in Magnolia, Ark.
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Texas is $10.84 per hour*
- Walmart benefits – available to eligible full- and part-time associates – include health insurance with no lifetime maximum. Walmart 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 September 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for details.
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