Renovated store offers a glimpse into the next generation of shopping
NORTHPORT, Ala., June 7, 2010 – The Walmart at 5710 McFarland Blvd. in Northport will celebrate a grand re-opening this week, giving local shoppers a glimpse of the company’s next generation of store design and customer experience. The results of a three-month remodeling project will be unveiled at the Northport Walmart Friday, June 11, during a grand re-opening ceremony at 7 a.m. Among the many improvements are a new layout, wider aisles, low-profile shelving, bright interior paint scheme, enhanced lighting and easy-to-read signage to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers than ever before.
“We listened to our customers and have redesigned the store to make shopping at Walmart even easier,” said store manager Selena Gunnels.
“The City of Northport is very excited about the renovations being made to our Walmart,” said Mayor Bobby Herndon. “This store is one of the mainstays of our economy. People from surrounding counties and even our Tuscaloosa neighbors go out of their way to shop at our Walmart.”
“We have come to appreciate the commitment and investment of Walmart in our community, providing exceptional value, a broad, diverse array of goods and services, job creation and investment and growing tax revenues for the community,” said Johnnie Aycock, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
New Layout Improves Customer Experience
The remodeled Northport store features a more open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays. Walmart also aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently, making it quicker to purchase everyday items.
“The new layout is easier to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for necessities,” said Gunnels.
A bright interior paint scheme and enhanced lighting creates a more inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Low-profile shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage helps customers find the products they need.
“The Northport Walmart is one of the most easily accessible stores anywhere, and with the remodeling on the inside I foresee easy access there also,” Herndon said. “We appreciate our relationship with Walmart and wish them continued success.”
Expanded Departments Add Value and Savings
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 enables shoppers to test new technology including laptops, cameras, phones and GPS units before purchase.
All new equipment in the digital photo lab makes printing photographs more convenient than ever.
A new department called Celebration Station has been added and will feature party supplies, greeting cards, balloons and helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap.
Grand Re-opening Activities Include Support for Local Organizations
The grand re-opening celebration is scheduled for Friday, June 11, and will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7 a.m. Leading up to the celebration, the store has distributed more than $5,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to local service organizations, including DCH Foundation and Junior Achievement of Tuscaloosa; representatives from both organizations will be on hand at the ceremony.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or “Walmart,” serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,400 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTES
• Selena Gunnels, store manager, can provide details about the grand re-opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours. She can be contacted at 205-333-7820.
• Walmart PR and Brand Reputation, 800-331-0085
• Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the legal trade name of the corporation. The name "Walmart," expressed as one word and without punctuation, is a trademark of the company and is used analogously to describe the company and its stores. Use the trade name when it is necessary to identify the legal entity, such as when reporting financial results, litigation or corporate governance.