Walmart Brings Savings on Groceries to Broken Arrow
New Walmart provides 350 jobs BROKEN ARROW, Okla., Sept. 2, 2009 – A new Walmart opens this month in Broken Arrow, 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 Walmart, located at 3900 E Hillside Drive, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Economic Impact Includes 350 New Jobs
The new Broken Arrow Walmart will employ approximately 350 associates, according to store manager Tammy Claunch. Fifteen of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years. Claunch is an Oklahoma citizen who began her Walmart career in 1981 as an part-time cashier at a store in Arkansas.
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 Broken Arrow 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 Claunch. “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 $30,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. Thirteen local non-profit organizations will receive grants to support programs that serve the community including: A New Leaf Inc., City of Broken Arrow Police Department, Haskill Middle School, PTA Oklahoma Congress, Rhoades Elementary School, Margaret Hudson Program Inc., Margaret Hudson Program Inc. OK Part of School District, Broken Arrow Seniors Incorporated, Spring Creek Elementary School, Wolf Creek Elementary School, Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club and Broken Arrow School District.
Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Broken Arrow 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., Sept. 16
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Chamber of Commerce will perform the ribbon-cutting following a speech from store manager and Senator of Oklahoma Bill Brown. North Eastern State University ROTC will be presenting the colors and the Broken Arrow High School band and cheerleaders will be present at the event.
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 Tammy Claunch is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. She can be reached at 918-355-1024.
- Statements and quotes on behalf of Walmart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
FACT SHEET
Broken Arrow Walmart Store facts - Location: 3900 E Hillside Drive, Broken Arrow, Okla.
- 176,350-square-foot Walmart
- Store opens at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: Tammy Claunch
- 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 lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
- Convenience services include a pharmacy, digital photo processing center, Walmart Connect Center, and a site-to-store pick up location
- Leased areas and services include a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, Regal Nail Salon, Subway restaurant, Game Play and City National Bank.
Charitable giving - $30,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations:
- A New Leaf Inc.
- City of Broken Arrow Police Department
- Haskell Middle School
- PTA Oklahoma Congress
- Rhoades Elementary School
- Margaret Hudson Program Inc.
- Broken Arrow Seniors Incorporated
- Margaret Hudson Program Inc. OK part of school district
- Spring Creek Elementary School
- Wolf Creek Elementary School
- Broken Arrow Neighbors
- Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club
- Broken Arrow School District
Employment - Store plans to employ approximately 350 associates
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Oklahoma is approximately $10.69 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: Tammy Claunch, 918-355-1024
- Merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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