New Walmart Brings New Jobs, Grocery to Garner
Walmart provides 350 jobs for area residents GARNER, N.C., Aug. 12, 2009 – A new Walmart opens this month in Garner, bringing 350 new jobs, savings on a full line of groceries 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 new store, located at 5141 North Carolina Hwy. 42, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19. Economic Impact Includes 350 New Jobs
The new Garner Walmart will employ approximately 350 associates, according to store manager Danny Davis. Approximately 20 associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years. Davis began his Walmart career in 1998 as an hourly sales associate at a store in Greenville.
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 South Garner 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 Davis. “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. Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $26,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The following organizations will each receive grants to support programs that serve the community: Able To Serve, Basic Needs Ministry, Clayton High School, First in Families of North Carolina, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Johnston Community College Continuing Education, Neuse River Foundation and West Johnston High School. Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Garner 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. Back-to-School Savings
The new Garner Walmart will open just in time for customers to find additional savings on back-to-school merchandise. Showcasing its ongoing commitment to unbeatable* prices, Walmart has a selection of $9 product offerings that make it easy to do the math when it comes to adding up savings on everything you need to start the school year off right. The $9 offers include a diverse collection of back-to-school necessities ranging from backpacks to socks and eyeglass frames to folders. “With great brands at great prices, we are helping students going back to school or off to college get the things they need and want, and helping mom to accommodate her budget,” said Davis. Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., Aug. 19
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19, for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Members of the West Johnston High School ROTC unit will present the colors, and representatives of the Garner Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon to the new store. About Walmart
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart stores, 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 $378 million to local communities in the United States. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. *Our stores will match the price of any local competitor's printed ad for an identical product. Not applicable to Walmart.com. Restrictions apply. See store for details. EDITOR’S NOTES - An invitation-only open house for grant recipients and other VIPs is scheduled from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 16. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Store Manager Danny Davis is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 919-772-7373.
FACT SHEET
Garner Walmart Store facts - Location: 5141 North Carolina Hwy. 42, Garner, N.C.
- 203,779-square-foot Walmart
- Store opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: Danny Davis
- 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 moms, meat and dairy products, fresh produce and beer and wine
- More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a drive-through lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
- Convenience services include a pharmacy, Tire & Lube Express, vision center, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center
- Leased areas and services include a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, McDonald’s restaurant and a branch of WoodForest Bank.
Charitable giving - $26,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations:
- Able To Serve
- Basic Needs Ministry
- Clayton High School
- First in Families of North Carolina
- Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
- Johnston Community College Continuing Education
- Neuse River Foundation
- West Johnston High School
Employment - Store plans to employ approximately 350 associates
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Virginia is approximately $11.34 per hour*
- Store Manager Danny Davis began his Walmart career in 1998 as an hourly sales associate at a store in Greenville.
- 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. For more information - Store manager: Danny Davis, 919-772-7373
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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