Walmart Brings Savings to Saratoga Springs
New store provides 350 jobs, convenient one-stop shopping SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah, April 23, 2009 – The new Walmart in Saratoga Springs will celebrate its grand opening this week, bringing the community hundreds of jobs, support for local organizations and Walmart’s unbeatable prices on a full line of groceries and general merchandise. The new store, located at 136 W. SR 73, will open at 8 a.m., Wednesday, April 29 and give local shoppers a glimpse at Walmart’s next generation of store design and customer experience. “Our new store is ready to serve the growing Saratoga Springs community by helping families save money on everyday necessities like groceries and $4 prescriptions,” said Store Manager Nathan Maerk. “We will also boost the community by providing more than 350 planned new jobs to the Utah County economy.” New Features, Layout Improve Customer Experience
In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores, such as the Saratoga Springs Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores. The new store features wide aisles, enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. Walmart 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 store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Maerk. “By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase including health and beauty and pet products, we are making one-stop shopping even easier.” Walmart customers will find savings in the store’s extensive electronics department featuring a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment. The store 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. A bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly. 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. Walmart Brings 350 Jobs to Saratoga Springs
The new store plans to employ approximately 350 associates, according to Maerk. “Working for Walmart provides a number of job opportunities and career choices for so many people, from seniors looking for supplemental income to young people just starting their work experience,” said Maerk. Like most Walmart store managers, Maerk joined the company as an hourly associate. He began his career in 1999, working as an overnight stocker at a store in Minot, N.D. Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $15,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. Associates at the Saratoga Springs Walmart selected the Utah National Guard Charitable Trust to receive $5,000 to help military families in need. The City of Saratoga Springs Police Department will also receive $5,000, funds that will purchase dog training equipment for the K-9 program. Other grant recipients include Alpine School District Foundation and Eagle Valley Elementary School. Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Saratoga Springs Walmart, like all new Walmartludes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s skylights harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting in the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. The cement used in the concrete flooring includes recycled materials, and the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The new store will also operate a recycling program and promote sustainable product purchases. Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., April 29
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Abe Miller, a singer in Jericho Road, will perform the national anthem. The National Guard unit will present the colors and will make a special presentation to honor 10 servicemen and women who have returned from deployment and their families. Eagle Mountain Mayor Heather Jackson and Saratoga Springs Mayor Timothy Parker will cut the ribbon to the new store. Throughout the day, customers will be able to enjoy character appearances, product samples and giveaways. 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. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com. EDITOR’S NOTES - An invitation-only open house for grant recipients and other VIPs is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Store Manager Nathan Maerk is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 801-766-4272.
FACT SHEET
Saratoga Springs Walmart
Store facts - Location: 136 W. SR 73, Saratoga Springs, Utah
- 184,109-square-foot Walmart
- Store opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: Nathan Maerk
- Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Store features
- Full line of groceries including a bakery, a deli serving fresh food and meal solutions for busy moms, meat and dairy products, fresh produce and beer and wine
- More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and a full line of electronics
- Convenience services include a pharmacy with two drive-through lanes, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center
- Leased areas and services include a Subway restaurant, SmartStyle Family Hair Care salon and a Da-Vi nail salon.
Charitable giving - $15,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations
- Alpine School District Foundation
- City of Saratoga Springs Police Department
- Eagle Valley Elementary School
- Utah National Guard Charitable Trust
Employment - Store plans to employ approximately 350 associates
- Store manager Nathan Maerk started his career with Walmart in 1999 as an hourly associate, working as an overnight stocker at a store in Minot, N.D.
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Utah is approximately $10.97 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 February 2009. See www.walmartstores.com for details. Walmart in Utah - As of April, Walmart employed 17,067 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in Utah:
- Walmarts: 30
- Discount Stores: 2
- Neighborhood Markets: 5
- Sam’s Clubs: 8
- Distribution Centers: 2
See www.walmartfacts.com for more information about Walmart in Utah. For more information - Store manager: Nathan Maerk, 801-766-4272.
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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