Walmart Brings Savings and Convenience to Fargo
New Walmart provides 300 jobs FARGO, N.D., Oct. 21, 2009 – A new Walmart opens this month in Fargo, bringing 300 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 3757 55th Ave. 5, will be open to customers at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Economic Impact Includes 300 New Jobs
The new Fargo Walmart will employ approximately 300 associates, according to store manager John Pies. Pies is began his Walmart career in 2000 as an assistant manager at a store in Mitchell, S.D.
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 Fargo Walmart, with faster service, a friendlier shopping experience and cleaner 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 layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Pies. “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, $17,000 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: Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, Fargo Police Department, Fargo Fire Department, Homeless Health Services, Great Plains Food Bank, American Red Cross Minn-Kota Chapter, and Fargo Park District.
Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Fargo Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, includes 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., Oct. 28
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Frank Morrow will perform the national anthem, and members of the local VFW will present the colors. Store manager and the Fargo mayor 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. Walmart (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 - Store Manager John Pies is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 701-526-1167.
- Statements and quotes on behalf of Walmart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
FACT SHEET
Fargo Walmart Store facts - Location: 3757 55th Ave. 5, Fargo, N.D.
- 186,366-square-foot Walmart
- Store opens at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: John Pies
- Open 24 hours a day, six days a week. Store closes at Saturdays at midnight and reopens Sundays at noon.
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 SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, and a Subway restaurant
Charitable giving - $17,000 grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations
- Rape and Abuse Crisis Center
- Fargo Police Department
- Fargo Fire Department
- Homeless Health Services
- Great Plains Food Bank
- American Red Cross Minn-Kota Chapter
- Fargo Park District
Employment - Store plans to employ approximately 300 associates
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in North Dakota is approximately $11.15 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: John Pies, 479-443-4673.
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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