Two Supercenters in Northwest Arkansas offer a glimpse into the next generation of shopping
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 27, 2008 – Two Walmart Supercenters in Northwest Arkansas will celebrate their grand re-openings this week, giving local shoppers a glimpse of the company’s next generation of store design and customer experience. The Supercenter located on Walnut Avenue in Rogers, Ark., which was the retailer’s first discount store, and the Supercenter on Mall Avenue in Fayetteville, Ark. are both debuting the completion of their four-month remodels on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Improvements to the stores include wider aisles, enhanced service and a new layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers than ever before.
“In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh our stores, our merchandising and our customer experience,” said Scott Huff, regional vice president of operations. “The improvements we’ve been making have all come together in these two locations resulting in stores that are cleaner, service that is faster, and a feeling in our stores that is friendlier.”
The Rogers and Fayetteville Supercenters are among the first stores in the country to feature the new Walmart logo. In June, Walmart announced that U.S. locations would update store logos as part of an ongoing evolution of its overall brand.
New Layout Improves Customer Experience
The remodeled Rogers and Fayetteville Supercenters are designed to make shopping easy for customers. A new layout creates a more open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays. Walmart also aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently. The pharmacy, for example, is now adjacent to food making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their groceries.
“The new layout of the stores is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Huff. “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 new bright interior color palette creates a more inviting shopping experience and helps define the stores’ merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for.
The remodel also brings Walmart customers an expanded electronics department featuring a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment. The new design includes a more hands-on experience for customers with interactive displays for hi-definition Blu-ray, video gaming and portable electronics. The interactive experience makes it easier for shoppers to test new technology including laptops, cameras, phones and GPS units before they purchase.
At the Fayetteville Supercenter, Walmart has 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.
Savings Just in Time for Holidays
With Halloween just days away, customers will be able to find unbeatable savings on costumes, candy and decorations in a new, expanded seasonal shop, conveniently located near the front of the store.
The newly remodeled Supercenters will also help customers get a jump on their holiday shopping while saving money. The stores feature a Christmas Shop where customers can meet all their holiday needs at affordable prices. Budget-conscious shoppers can find Christmas trees, ornaments, wrapping paper, lights and outside decor.
“We believe our customers will be looking to stretch their dollars more than ever this holiday season,” said Huff. “Our stores will provide affordable and convenient solutions to help customers meet their Christmas shopping needs.”
Rogers Supercenter Debuts New Restaurant
To cater to the tastes of local customers, the Rogers Supercenter now features a new restaurant that serves Latin food. Pollo Campero, the world’s largest Latin chicken restaurant chain, is opening its 43rd U.S. location inside the newly remodeled Supercenter. The restaurant offers customers the choice of grilled and famous fried bone-in chicken prepared in an authentic Latin style.
Founded in 1971 by the Gutiérrez family in Guatemala, Pollo Campero opened its first U.S. restaurant in 2002. Since then, the company has opened 43 locations in the United States from California to New York and Florida. The Rogers location will be the second Pollo Campero restaurant located inside a Walmart.
Grand Re-opening Activities
The Fayetteville Supercenter will kick off the grand re-opening celebration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Local dignitaries, including Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody, will be on hand and the Walmart choir will sing the national anthem. Special activities will continue throughout the day with appearances by the Arkansas Razorback cheerleaders and the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders.
The Rogers Supercenter will hold ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The store welcomes the community to attend its grand-opening celebration. Special activities and product giveaways will continue throughout the day.
About Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart Stores, Supercenters, 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 $296 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.
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