Walmart Brings Savings and Convenience to Conway

New Walmart provides 400 jobs for local residents

CONWAY, S.C., June 10, 2009 – A new Walmart opens this month in Conway, bringing 400 new jobs, savings for local shoppers and an increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy. Nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Walmart, located at 151 Myrtle Ridge Road, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, June 17.

“The new Walmart is near several retirement communities, Coastal Carolina University and Horry/Georgetown Tech,” said Liz Gilland, Horry County council chairman. “This new store is bound to be a popular one-stop shopping center for the area and for thousand of visitors who will drive past it on their way to the beach.”

Store Designed to 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 Conway 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 Store Manager Scott Brisson. “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.

The store will feature a special department where customers can purchase merchandise from Coastal Carolina University, which is located in Conway. Hats, apparel, accessories, stadium seats and glasses featuring the college’s blue and black colors as well as its familiar mascot, Chanticleer.

The store’s opening brings approximately 400 new jobs to the community. Twenty of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years.

Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $20,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The following organizations will each receive funds to support programs that serve the community: American Red Cross, Carolina Forest High School Junior ROTC, Horry County Literacy Council, Horry County Shelter Home, Meals On Wheels of Horry County, Street Reach Ministries of Myrtle Beach and Waccamaw Elementary School.

Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Conway 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 is made with 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 also operates a recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.

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 Carolina Forest High School Junior ROTC will present the colors, and Horry County officials and members of the Conway City Council will cut the ribbon to the new storey. 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 7 p.m., Friday, June 12. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
Store Manager Scott Brisson is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. She can be reached at 843-234-2040.

FACT SHEET
Conway Walmart

Store facts

Location: 151 Myrtle Ridge Road, Conway, S.C.
151,731-square-foot Walmart
Store opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
Store manager: Scott Brisson

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, 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

$20,000 in grants from Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations:
- American Red Cross
- Carolina Forest High School Junior ROTC
- Horry County Literacy Council
- Horry County Shelter Home
- Meals On Wheels of Horry County
- Street Reach Ministries of Myrtle Beach
- Waccamaw Elementary School

Employment

Store plans to employ approximately 400 associates
The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in South Carolina is approximately $11.29 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.

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