Retailer aims to cut the cost of Christmas with deeper values for customers, Foundation increases support for community organizations
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 6, 2008 – Walmart today announced initiatives specifically targeting the needs of American families and communities over the next seven weeks. Walmart vows to lead on delivering a Christmas that costs less, with targeted week-to-week savings and thousands of Rollbacks. Operation Main Street also includes initiatives that reach beyond shopping carts by lending a helping hand to community organizations hit especially hard in tough economic times.
Over the next seven weeks, the retailer anticipates saving consumers an additional $200 million over and above its every day low prices. Each week new savings will be introduced as the retailer keeps particular focus on the prices of items families want and need most.
"In challenging times, our customers look to Walmart to be their advocate and do what we do best – save them money," said Eduardo Castro-Wright, Walmart U.S. president and CEO. “Families trust us and our customers will be amazed at the depth of the savings.”
Thousands of Rollbacks Storewide
With savings on thousands of items on Rollback, Walmart’s strategy is simple – to provide customers with savings that matter on the dinner table and under the tree. From health to home, examples of these new savings across the store include:
- Toys: Additional Rollbacks to $10 include classic family board games like Battleship (was $14.38) and the Littlest Pet Shop Play Pack (was $11.88). The savings don’t stop with $10 toys, as there are hundreds of additional new Rollbacks in the toy aisle.
- Home: GE 12-cup coffee maker and 14-speed blender (were $29.88, now $24).
- Electronics: Magnavox Blu-ray player (was $229, now $198).
- Grocery: Betty Crocker potatoes (was $1.48-$1.58, now 98 cents); 48-oz. Crisco vegetable oil (was $3.88, now $2.98).
- Health: Airborne tablets (was $5.97, now $4.92).
November 8 One-Day Savings
To kick off seven weeks of additional savings this Christmas season, and because electronics are high on holiday shopping lists,* Walmart is launching one-day savings this Saturday, Nov. 8, including these items:
- Sony 2GB Walkman MP3 player at $49.**
- $298 Compaq CQ-139WM 15.4” laptop with 2GB RAM and 160GB hard drive.**
- $100 Walmart Gift Card with a $399 Sony PlayStation 3 or a $30 Walmart Gift Card with $129 Sony PlayStation 2.
- Video games at $19.82 including Warhawk, Resistance and MotorStorm.
To keep shoppers informed of special weekly holiday savings at the press of a button, Walmart has also launched a “Savings Alert” mobile service to give them all-the-time access and weekly notifications about these savings. Customers can sign up at www.walmart.com/mobileinfo or by dialing #WMT from any cell phone. Customers can also visit Walmart.com to view all of the Nov. 8 One-Day Savings items.
More Savings with Free Shipping
To help customers save even more, Walmart.com has extended its Site to Store order cut-off date by seven days (through Dec. 17). The popular Site to Store service provides free shipping of online orders to local Walmart stores, and the retailer expects to save customers more than $40 million in shipping fees this Christmas season. More information is available at www.walmart.com/sitetostore.
Walmart Foundation Supports Communities
Operation Main Street will ensure Walmart stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its community partners with a commitment to helping Americans hit hardest by tough economic times. Focused on immediate needs, the Walmart Foundation will give more than $20 million combined to local community organization over the next seven weeks.
Today, the Walmart Foundation also announced a $1.25 million grant to The Salvation Army. Red Kettles will, once again, be invited in front of Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations from Friday, Nov. 28 through Wednesday, Dec. 24. And this year, the Walmart Foundation will invite customers to give early – and throughout the season – by hosting The Salvation Army bell ringers and Red Kettles for a special day of giving on Saturday, Nov. 8.
About Wal-Mart 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. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health. In 2007, Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
* The 2008 Holiday Shopping Intentions Survey, http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/8645.aspx.
** Prices in some markets may vary by state. Prices listed represent the majority of Walmart stores nationwide. Some restrictions apply, void where prohibited.
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