Walmart Brings Savings and Convenience to Flemington
New Raritan Township Walmart provides 300 jobs Flemington, NJ, Sept. 2, 2009 – A new Walmart opens this month in Flemington, bringing 300 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 Walmart, located at 150 Route 31, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Sept.16th.
Economic Impact Includes 300 New Jobs
The new Flemington Walmart will employ approximately 300 associates, according to store manager Thomas McGowan. McGowan began his career with Walmart as an assistant manager in Pennsylvania but has worked in New Jersey the last three years.
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 Flemington 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 McGowan. “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, $20,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The Flemington Area Food Pantry will receive $5,000 and The Hunterdon Hospice, The Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance and The Center for Educational Advancement will receive $2,500. The Raritan Township Fire Company, Flemington-Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad and the Raritan Township Police Department will all be awarded $2,000. The Greater Flemington Soccer Club will be given $1,500.
Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Flemington 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 8:00 a.m., Sept. 16th
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Rose Holden from the Center for Educational Advancement will perform “America the Beautiful”.
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.
EDITOR’S NOTES - An invitation-only open house for grant recipients and other VIPs is scheduled from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Store Manager Thomas McGowan is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 908-788-6769.
- Statements and quotes on behalf of Walmart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
FACT SHEET
Flemington Walmart Store facts - Location: 150 Route 31, Flemington, NJ
- 134,872-square-foot Walmart
- Store opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept 16th, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: Thomas McGowan
- Open 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., 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 and fresh produce.
- More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
- Convenience services include a pharmacy, vision center, digital photo processing center, Walmart Connect Center, and a MoneyCenter
- Leased areas and services include a Subway restaurant.
Charitable giving - $20,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations:
- Flemington Area Food Pantry
- Raritan Township Fire Company
- Hunterdon Hospice
- Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance A New Jersey Non-Profit Corp.
- Flemington-Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad Inc.
- Center for Educational Advancement
- Greater Flemington Soccer Club
- Raritan Township Police Dept.
Employment - Store plans to employ approximately 300 associates
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in New Jersey is approximately $9.00 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.
For more information - Store manager: Thomas McGowan, 908-788-6769.
- Merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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