Community of Mount Vernon Welcomes New Walmart
Newly relocated Walmart provides 320 new jobs, $22,500 in local grants MOUNT VERNON, Wash., Sept. 2, 2009 – A new Walmart opens this month in Mount Vernon, bringing approximately 320 planned 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 2301 Freeway Drive, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Sept.16.
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 Mount Vernon Walmart.
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 Tim Labrensz. “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.
Approximately 320 new positions were added as a result of the relocation. More than 25 of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years, including 10 associates who have worked at the store since its original opening in 1998.
Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $22,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. Six local organizations will each receive grants to support programs that serve the community including: Big Lake Fire Department; Kiwanis; Mount Vernon High School; Muscular Dystrophy Association; Neighbors in Need Food Bank and Skagit County Fairgrounds.
Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Mount Vernon 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. Store associate, Kim Loop and her daughter, Jessica Loop, will perform the national anthem and store associates who have worked at the store since its original opening in 1998 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.
EDITOR’S NOTES - An invitation-only open house for business leaders and other VIPs is scheduled at 5:30 p.m., Monday, September 14 and will include preview tours. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Store Manager Tim Labrensz is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 360-424-1279.
- Statements and quotes on behalf of Walmart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
FACT SHEET
Mount Vernon Walmart Store facts - Location: 2301 Freeway Drive, Mount Vernon, Wash.
- Formerly located at 2021 Market St.
- 203,000-square-foot Walmart
- Store opens at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: Tim Labrensz
- Open 24 hours, 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, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center
- Leased areas and services include a Subway restaurant, Regal nail salon and a SmartStyle Family Hair Care salon.
Charitable giving - $22,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations:
- Big Lake Fire Department
- Kiwanis
- Mount Vernon High School
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
- Neighbors in Need Food Bank
- Skagit County Fairgrounds
Employment - Store plans to employ approximately 600 associates, including 320 new positions
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Washington is approximately $12.09 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: Tim Labrensz, 360-424-1279.
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
# # #
|
