Weaverville Welcomes Economic Boost From New Walmart

New store brings 350 jobs to the community

WEAVERVILLE, N.C., June 10, 2009 – A new Walmart will open in Weaverville this month, introducing the company’s next generation of store design and customer experience to the area. Customers will find fresh produce, favorite brands and everyday savings among the store’s wide aisles. The Walmart will open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, June 17. The store is an anchor store in the newly opened Northridge Commons shopping center, and Walmart worked to create a store that complements the local community’s designation as a Tree City USA. Located at 25 Northridge Commons Parkway, the 176,274-square-foot store features extensive landscaping with dogwood trees and plants throughout the parking lot islands and in the surrounding green spaces.

Economic Impact Includes 350 New Jobs
The new Weaverville Walmart plans employ approximately 350 associates at the time of grand opening, according to Store Manager Shawnalyn Conner. Fifteen of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years. Conner began her Walmart career as a temporary sales associate in 1997 at a store in Forrest City, N.C.

Weaverville Town Manager Michael J. Morgan said, “I am pleased to welcome Walmart into the town of Weaverville as a corporate neighbor. During this time of economic downturn, our Weaverville Walmart has created jobs and shopping opportunities for the citizens of Weaverville as well as the region. I look forward to having Walmart as a member of our community for many years.”

Layout Improves 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 Weaverville Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores.

The new Walmart 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 Conner. “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 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.

Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $13,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The following organizations will receive grants to support programs that serve the community: City of Weaverville Fire Department, City of Weaverville Police Department, Hot Springs Health Program, North Buncombe High School and Weaverville Senior Meal Center.

“This is a true community store,” said Conner. “Approximately 90 percentMost of our store’s associates live right here in Weaverville, and we are proud to be able to support organizations that make this community such a great place to live and work.”

Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
Beyond its appearance, the Weaverville 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 throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms and the store’s concrete floors include recycled materials.

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., June 17
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Members of the ROTC unit from North Buncombe High School will present the colors. 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 at 6 p.m., Sunday, June 14. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
Store Manager Shawnalyn Conner is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. She can be reached at 828-645-5028.

FACT SHEET
Weaverville Walmart

Store facts

Location: 25 Northridge Commons Parkway, Weaverville, N.C.
176,274-square-foot Walmart
Store opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
Store manager: Shawnalyn Conner

Store features

Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce and beer and wine.
More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, a drive-through lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and a full line of electronics
Convenience services include a pharmacy, vision center, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center
Leased areas and services include a SmartStyles family hair salon, Subway restaurant and a branch of WoodForest National Bank
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Charitable giving

$13,000 in grants from Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations:
- City of Weaverville Fire Department
- City of Weaverville Police Department
- Hot Springs Health Program
- North Buncombe High School
- Weaverville Senior Meal Center

Employment

Store plans to employ approximately 350 associates on grand-opening day
The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in North Carolina is approximately $11.30 per hour*
Store Manager Shawnalyn Conner began her Walmart career as a temporary sales associate in 1997 at a store in Forrest City.
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.

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